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The hoofs of my beast sounded like the low rumbling of 
thunder as I rode over Stroudwater bridge. Page 124. 
Frontispiece A T 01 s Revenge 


A TORY’S REVENGE 

Being Ben. Mathew’s Account of the Burning of 
Falmouth in 1775 

Edited by WILLIAM P. CHIPMAN 

Author of “A Brave Defense,” “ A Daring Capture,” “Two 
Yankee Middies,” ‘‘The Young Minuteman,” 
etc., etc. 



With Six Page Illustrations by J. Watson Davis 

A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 

NEW YORK 



PTbRARY of OONGHcSS 

fwu Copies rfeceiveu 


U 


JUL 20 1905 

Copyrtiffii tiwy 
CLASS CL. Wc. Noi 

// 9 ^ ^ a 4 

COPY 8. 


'CLASS 


COPYRIGHT 1905 

By a. L. BURT COMPANY 


A TORY’S REVENGE 
By William P. Chipman 


CONTENTS. 


U 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. In which I Meet Captain Coulson 1 

II. In which I am a Frequenter of Greele’s Tavern. ... 14 

III. In which Captain Coulson gets Angry 29 

IV. In which the Sloop of War, Canseau, Appears 46 

V. In which I Start for Brunswick 67 

VI. In which Colonel Thompson makes a Capture 79 

VII. In which Good Patriots Disagree 97 

VIII. In which Captain Mowatt Breaks his Word 118 

IX. In which I Begin an Unexpected Voyage 136 

X. In which Captain Coulson is twice Baffled 150 

XI. In which I Meet two Old Acquaintances 167 

XII. In which I am put into the Bridewell 182 

XIII. In which I become a Member of the British Fleet. . 197 

XIV. In which Captain Mowatt Shows his Hand 214 

XV. In which the Signal is given for Falmouth’s Doom. 230 

XVI. In which I Meet Captain Coulson Face to Face 243 





LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


The hoofs of my beast sounded like the low rumbling of 
thunder as I rode over Stroudwater bridge. . . .Frontispiece 

PAGB 


Then Enoch gasped; “ Tell Captain Coulson what you have 
been doing here this afternoon ! Why, he will kill 
you!” 38 

“What are you going to do with me?” I asked. “We 
will soon show you,” was the response as the fellow 
proceeded to search me 84 

I was about to remonstrate when Captain Coulson struck 
me on the head with his fist, knocking me under the 
gunwale 149 

“Blow out the light quick!” said Master Weston, “I 
have been discovered ” : 191 

Sam had the strength of an infuriated lion, and in his grasp 
his victim was as a helpless fawn 252 


A Tory's Revenge 


^ - 


EXPLANATORY NOTE. 


“ Though I am now eighty-five years old, and 
it is full seventy years since the burning of Fal- 
mouth (or Portland, as the city is now called), the 
incidents of that event are as fresh in my mind 
as though they transpired but yesterday ; and I 
am constrained at this late day to tell the real 
story of that infamous act because of the present 
tendency to put the chief blame for the deed upon 
the head of Captain Henry Mowatt, commander 
of the British fieet. Several historians have 
already attributed to him both the origin and 
the execution of the cowardly destruction of 
Falmouth. While he was certainly the perpe- 
trator of the dastardly crime, yet the origin of 
it lies with Captain Samuel Coulson. No man 
ought to know this better than I, for I was an 
inmate of the Coulson household for the space 
of nearly two years ; and I shall in these pages 
show that the burning of the ill-fated town was 
due to the spite of that notorious Tory.” — An ex- 
tract from the preface to the manuscript of Ben- 
iii 


IV 


EXPLANATORY NOTE. 


jamin Mathews, from which this narrative is 
compiled. 

I have taken pains to ascertain that Master 
Benjamin Mathews, whose manuscript, with only 
such changes as an editor would naturally make, 
is reproduced here, was a thoroughly respected 
and truthful person ; while a comparison of his 
historical facts with those of other reliable au- 
thorities has convinced me we have here the real 
explanation of an event which for its wantonness 
and cruelty was scarcely exceeded during the 
Eevolutionary war. If at times the language 
of Master Mathews seems harsh and severe, it 
. should be remembered that so careful and fair- 
minded a historian as John S. C. Abbott says of 
this very event in his History of Maine : There 
can be no language too strong in which to de- 
nounce this fiend-like outrage.” 


WILLIAM P. CHIPMAN. 


A TORY’S REVENGE, 


CHAPTER I. 

IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 

It is easy for me to recall where and when I 
met Captain Samuel Coulson * for the first time, 
since that event is inseparably connected with 
two of the saddest experiences of my boyhood : 
the news of my father’s death ; and a proposed 
change in my home. 

My mother and I, together with my nine broth- 
ers and sisters, all younger than myself, were 
then living in a small, one-story house near the 
bank of the New Meadows river in Brunswick. 
I know now that it was a very humble home, but 
to me in those days, having seen but little of this 
world, it seemed all one could ask for. Possibly 

* I find that Captain Coulson is called Thomas, also John, 
by some authorities. I retain the name Samuel, believing 
Benjamin Mathews ought to know the Tory’s given name.— 
Editor. 


1 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the presence of as true a mother as ever breathed, 
surrounded that humble spot with a charm no 
other residence has since had for me. 

It was a raw, chilly day in early April, 1774 — 
the very month I was fourteen years old — and I 
was chopping wood just back of the house, when 
two horsemen rode up to our door. Astonished 
at the unusual circumstance, I stuck my ax into 
the block and, stepping along to the nearest 
corner of the building, I, boy fashion, stared 
curiously at the strangers. 

The next moment a gruif voice called out : 

“ Come here, youngster, and hold these beasts ! ’’ 

I, hat in hand — for in those days we were ex- 
pected to show proper respect towards our elders 
— hastened forward and immediately found my- 
self face to face with two gentlemen, who had 
already dismounted. 

I can see them now : one short and stout, and 
in the rough dress of a sailor ; the other tall, 
haughty, and imperious, and wearing finer cloth- 
ing than I had ever beheld before in all my life. 
How my boyish heart coveted that rig ! 

A cocked hat adorned with buckles of gold, a 
dark top coat with golden buttons, an under coat 
of red, a blue vest, yellow breeches, high top boots, 
and a huge pair of riding gloves, made up a cos- 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 3 

tume which in my young eyes seemed gorgeous 
enough for a king, and wondering who the dis- 
tinguished caller might be, and what business he 
could have with my mother, I bowed low before 
him, and then took the reins of the horse he was 
still holding in my right hand, as he had com- 
manded. The second animal was led over to me 
by the attendant, for such I took the plainly 
dressed man to be, though I could not understand 
why he wore a sailor’s garb, and when I had 
grasped the reins of that beast with my left hand, 
both men left me without further ado, and went 
up to our front door. 

The short, stout stranger knocked long and 
loudly there with his fist, while his companion 
beat the ground impatiently with his riding whip. 
In a few minutes mother came to the door, car- 
rying my youngest sister, a babe of three months, 
on her arm. She seemed as astonished at the 
sight of the callers as I had been, but courteously 
invited them into the living room, and, as they 
left the door ajar on entering, I heard distinctly 
every word of the conversation that now ensued. 

The tall visitor began. 

‘^This is Mistress Katharine Mathews, is it 
not ? ” he asked somewhat superciliously I 
thought. 


4 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


“Yes, sir,” mother replied. 

“I am Captain Samuel Coulson of Falmouth,” 
the caller explained, and now I was sure there 
were both pomposity and pride in his tones. 

“ The owner of the vessel in which my husband 
last sailed ! ” exclaimed my mother, and I did not 
need the tremor of her voice to fill my own heart 
with a dark foreboding. Like her I was sure the 
visit of Captain Coulson to our house meant that 
some terrible misfortune had befallen us. 

“ This is Ezekiel Goodyear of the same ship, he 
will tell you what has happened,” the tall man 
continued ; then he came along to the open door, 
where he stood with his back towards my mother 
and Master Goodyear with the air of one who had 
turned a disagreeable job over to another person 
to perform. 

“You see, missus,” the seaman began hesi- 
tatingly, “Ben — that’s your husband — an’ me 
was shipmates on the brig Susan Jane, bound for 
Liverpool an’ back. When two weeks out he fell 
overboard. ’Twas in the night, an’ there was an 
orful gale, and ’twas no use, he jess had to go to 
Davy Jones’ locker ; there was no help for it, an’ 
I’m sorry for ye, as sorry as I can be.” 

He stopped there to draw a big handkerchief 
from his pocket, probably to wipe the moisture 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 5 

from his forehead, for his effort had put him into 
a great sweat, but before he could use the cloth 
my mother, with a loud cry, fell from her chair 
in a faint. 

Help ! help ! ” the poor fellow screamed, 
hastening over to her side and gently raising her 
head from the floor. 

Quick ! boy ; help your mother ; I’ll look out 
for the beasts,” exclaimed Captain Coulson rush- 
ing out to me, and forgetting in his excitement 
to be dignified. 

I was already on my way to the house, how- 
ever, and in another minute was kneeling beside 
my stricken parent, beseeching her to open her 
eyes and speak to me, while Ezekiel Goodyear, 
finding I had come, turned his attention to my 
baby sister, who was crying more from fright 
than because of any real injury she had received 
in her tumble from mother’s arms. 

He must have been a master hand with chil- 
dren, for in an instant he had the little one quiet, 
and was directing my oldest sister, a girl ot 
nearly thirteen, who had now come in from the 
kitchen where she had been with the other chil- 
dren, to bring me a dish of water that I might 
bathe mother’s face. 

Polly, who was handy beyond her years about 


6 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


all matters of the house, and who had seen 
mother in a similar faint before, needed no second 
bidding, and soon brought the water and assisted 
me in the restoration which now speedily fol- 
lowed. 

‘‘ Benjamin ! Polly ! My fatherless children ! 
What shall I do ? ” my mother murmured the 
moment her opening eyes fell upon us. 

Before either of us could answer had we 
known what to say. Captain Coulson called out 
sharply from without : 

‘^Haven’t you got that woman ready to talk 
yet ? I’ve important business to transact with 
her, but can’t wait here all day to attend to it.” 

His harsh words became a potent restorative, 
and my mother sat up, saying loud enough for 
the waiting man to hear : 

Yes, I am well enough to attend to any mat- 
ters Captain Coulson may care to adjust with 
me. Help me to a chair, children.” 

Polly and I lifted her up, and put her upon the 
chair where she had been sitting, but she looked 
so pale I hesitated about leaving her to hold the 
horses for our visitor. 

Master Goodyear must have seen my hesitation 
and understood the reason for it, for he immedi- 
ately said : 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 7 

‘‘ Eemain here with your mother, lad ; it is 
your place. I will look out for the beasts.” 

This arrangement must have been satisfactory 
to Captain Coulson, for he re-entered the house 
smiling benignantly. 

It may he hardly the thing, good mistress, to 
mention business matters in this hour of your 
great sorrow,” he began with a suavity I had not 
expected him to manifest ; but it is a long way 
down here, and I am sure you will pardon me if 
I now attend to the little amount I owed your 
late husband. You heard Master Goodyear say- 
ing that the sad accident occurred when the ship 
was two weeks out. I shall double that time, 
however, and here is the pay in full,” and as he 
spoke he dropped two pounds into my mother’s 
hands. 

Thank you, sir,” she responded gratefully, 
while I hastened to express my own appreciation 
of his generous act ; for we both at that time 
firmly believed he had given us twice the amount 
due my father, nor was it until months afterwards 
that we learned that the Susan Jane was two 
weeks out on her homeward passage when the 
accident occurred, and that the wily schemer had, 
therefore, not paid us one third the amount 
which was our actual due. 


8 


A TORY'S REVENGE. 


Yet, knowing he had wronged us, there the 
villain stood receiving our expressions of grati- 
tude, and saying : 

Pray do not mention it ; it is a very small 
matter I assure you.” 

Then glancing slowly about the room as though 
he was taking an inventory of the few articles it 
contained, he at length went on : 

I wish to do even more for you. Mistress 
Mathews, hut before I decide in what way, I 
must ask you a few questions. Do you own this 
— ahem ! this humble dwelling ? ” 

“ No, sir,” she admitted. 

Ah ! and how many children have you ? ” 

‘‘ Ten,” she replied, finding it difficult to choke 
back the tears which in spite of herself would 
arise at the thought of the great burden which 
now devolved upon her. 

A good many mouths to feed ; a good many 
bodies to clothe,” he went on as though his own 
heart was heavy with the great responsibility. 
‘‘Some of us must help you lift the load, and this 
shall he my part. As soon as you can arrange 
for it send this oldest boy of yours to me at Fal- 
mouth. I can find work for him, and will pay 
you a constantly increasing wage for his services. 
When he is a little older he shall be trained to 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 9 

command one of my vessels. Then he can sup- 
port you very comfortably. Tell me, is it a bar- 
gain ? ” 

Looking as we did upon the speaker as already 
our benefactor, it is not strange that my mother 
and myself were overwhelmed by this kind pro- 
posal. We could see in it only a real desire on 
his part to help us in our time of [need, and I 
quickly exclaimed : 

‘‘If I must leave home, sir, nothing would 
please me better than to enter your service ; ” 
while mother remarked with an emotion she 
could not conceal : 

^ “ God bless you, sir, for your kindness to the 
widow and the fatherless ; and though I cannot 
spare the lad just yet, we are not in a position to 
reject your handsome offer, and you may expect 
to hear from us a little later.” 

“Let me see,” the Captain answered, rubbing 
his smoothly shaven chin thoughtfully ; “It is 
now the first week in April. Say you send the 
boy over to me early next month ; how will that 
do?” 

After some hesitation my mother consented, 
and, with a gracious bow to us both, our visitor 
went out to his horses, and soon he and Master 
Goodyear rode away. 


10 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


I have related these circumstances in my family 
history that it may be known how I came to be 
an inmate of the Coulson household, and I shall 
trouble you no further with my private affairs 
than to say : Within thirty days after the coming 
of our visitors the humble dwelling where we had 
so long resided was abandoned ; my mother be- 
coming the housekeeper at a place where she was 
permitted to take her two youngest children ; my 
other brothers and sisters going to homes provided 
for them among distant relatives and friends ; 
while I set out on my long tramp to Falmouth, 
firmly believing that I was entering upon a 
career seldom vouchsafed a lad of my years, and 
all because of the kindness of the man to whom I 
was going. 

There is a single incident of my journey of 
which I will speak — very puzzling to me at that 
time, but which I came to understand before 
many weeks had passed. I was within eight or 
ten miles of the town and, thirsty from my twenty 
miles of travel, stopped at the well of a farm- 
house to obtain a drink of water. As I quaffed 
the cool and refreshing liquid a man came out 
from the dwelling and accosted me : 

Traveling far he asked. 

I told him whence I had come, and we were 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. H 

soon engaged in a conversation during which he 
learned who I was and where I was going. 

‘‘I want to know,” he drawled, you are 
going to work for Captain Coulson ? ” 

Yes,” I assented with considerable pride. 

‘‘Well,” he continued with that same inimi- 
table drawl, “ I pity ye.” 

I resumed my journey with the first feelings of 
misgiving I had experienced since Captain Coul- 
son had made his beneficent offer to my mother. 
Could it be he was deceiving us ? Would I find 
his service different from that, I, in my boyish 
enthusiasm, had pictured it ? I could not believe 
it ; and dismissing the remark of the farmer as 
one begotten in a jealous heart, I hastened along 
the rough path before me, anxious to reach the 
town before sunset. 

But the sun had been some time out of sight, 
and the shades of night were rolling rapidly down 
when I reached the village, and inquired of the 
first person I met, a lad of about my own age, 
with whom I was destined to have a most inti- 
mate acquaintance, the way to Captain Coulson’s 
residence. 

The boy came close to my side and looked me 
over in the darkness ; then he said : 

“ My name is Enoch Freeman, what is yours ? ” 


12 


A TORY'S REVENGE. 


‘^Benjamin Mathews,” I replied unhesitatingly, 
for there was a heartiness in the tones of the 
youth I liked. 

‘‘ Are you to live at Captain Coulson’s ? ” he 
next inquired. 

“Yes, I expect to,” I responded ; “anyway I 
am to work for him.” 

“We shall be near each other,” was his only 
comment. “ Come on ! I will show you.” 

He led the way down a near-by street, pointing 
out as we passed along, his own home, and stop- 
ping soon before a dwelling which even in the 
darkness I knew to he more pretentious than any 
of its neighbors. 

“Here you are,” he remarked. “Go around 
to the side door, near that window where you see 
the light, and knock,” and with this bit of advice 
he left me. 

His sudden departure had a curious effect upon 
me. I experienced a sensation so new and inde- 
scribable I knew not what to call it. I have since 
learned it was home-sickness, but at that time it 
seemed as though a huge hand had been thrust 
down my throat and was tearing away at my 
heart-strings. I would have given anything to 
have broken away from its grasp and fled over 
the weary miles I had come to my mother. But 


IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON. 

irresistibly I was drawn on, into the yard, and 
around to the door which had been pointed out to 
me, where I raised mechanically the brass sounder 
whose resonant blows at the next moment seemed 
to my excited nerves to be so many hollow voices 
mocking at my misery. 


CHAPTER II. 


IN WHICH I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 

A middle-aged woman, evidently a servitor, 
answered my knock, and opened the door wide 
enough to see who was there, hut waited for me 
to make my errand known. 

‘‘ Is Captain Samuel Coulson in ? ” I inquired, 
with some tremor in my voice I confess ; for now 
that I was at the great man’s door I did not feel 
so sure about my welcome. 

‘‘No, he’s gone to Boston,” she answered curtly, 
starting to shut the door in my face. 

But I was too quick for her, and asked before 
the aperture was fairly closed : 

“ Is Mistress Coulson in, then ? ” 

“Yes,” she assented through the crack, “but 
she sees no one as late as this ; she’s an invalid ; ” 
and then the door was actually closed upon 
me. 

For a moment I stood there hardly knowing 
what to do, and then I ventured to knock again. 

14 : 


I AM A FREQUENTER OP GREELE’S TAVERN. 15 

The same woman immediately pushed the door 
ajar, asking crossly : 

Well, what do you want now ? ” 

‘‘I’m the hoy from Brunswick, who was to 
come here to work,” I stammered in my despera- 
tion ; for a fear had come upon me that I might 
have to pass the chilly night in the street. 

“ I know nothing about it,” she retorted, “but 
Miss Dora may. I suppose you may as well step 
in while I call her.” 

Ungracious as the invitation was I obeyed — for 
there was nothing else for me to do — and stood 
there in the little entry while she went to call 
Miss Dora, whoever she might be. 

As I waited I could not help looking into the 
rooms at my right and left. The former was the 
living room of the house as I soon learned, but 
its gorgeous rugs and upholstery appeared to my 
uninitiated eyes fit to adorn a palace. 

But dazzling as the splendor of this room was, 
that of the one on my left, in my boyish estima- 
tion, surpassed it. That it was the dining-room 
the massive table at its center clearly showed. It 
was neither this nor the other heavy furniture of 
the apartment, however, that awakened my ad- 
miration, so much as the spotless linen, the del- 
icate china, and the glistening silver under which 


16 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the table groaned. I had heard there were such 
things, but now I beheld them for the first 
time. 

As I gazed, almost spell-bound by the sight, the 
tall figure of Captain Coulson, clad in the same 
gorgeous attire he wore when calling on my 
mother arose before me, and I began to feel that 
the splendor I now saw was nothing more than I 
should have expected to find in his home. 

Along with this thought there came another : 
it was the man possessing these priceless things 
who had been so gracious to us, and who had in- 
vited me to his house ; whereupon I dismissed 
every misgiving that had been struggling to enter 
my heart, and, puffed up with pride, tried to 
think of myself as a favored sharer in all this 
splendor. I was just wondering how long it 
would take me to become accustomed to it, when 
the servant returned accompanied by a tall, show- 
ily dressed woman, who so closely resembled the 
Captain in figure and feature and was so near his 
own age, I had no hesitation in deciding that she 
must be his sister ; and I may as well say here as 
anywhere, never were two peas more alike than 
Dora and Samuel Coulson. 

Critically the haughty woman looked me over, 
but I could not tell whether she was pleased 


I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 17 

or displeased with my appearance ; then she 
said : 

‘‘ So you are Benjamin Mathews ? ” 

‘^Yes, good mistress,” I replied, making my 
best bow. 

Don’t good mistress me,” she snapped out, 
and stamping her foot in her rage. I am simply 
Miss Dora to you and to every other servitor in 
this house.” 

‘‘I beg your pardon. Miss Dora,” I managed 
to say in my fright, but I — I didn’t know just 
what to call you.” 

“Of course you didn’t,” she responded, as one 
who, having made the impression she wished, 
could now afford to be gracious. “We shall get 
along nicely together, I think. You came around 
to the side door to-night when most boys would 
have gone to the front entrance, which shows you 
are a lad of good sense and knew your place, a 
thing John Weston, who will instruct you in your 
duties, never knew. I’m glad my brother had 
sense enough to dismiss him.” 

Then she turned to the waiting servant. 

“Here, Jane,” she directed, “take Benjamin 
out to the kitchen and give him his supper. Then 
show him to his room,” and with these words she 

swept out of our presence with the air of one who 
2 


18 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


would no longer be troubled with matters which 
were so beneath her attention. 

Through the richly adorned dining-room I fol- 
lowed Jane to a kitchen scarcely better appointed 
than, and nowhere near as neat as, my mother’s, 
where I ate my supper ; then I was shown to a 
loft over the stable, no more comfortable than the 
attic in my old home, where I was told I was to 
sleep. So quickly did my air dreams in the little 
entry fall to pieces ; so quickly did I learn that 
my place in the Coulson household was to be that 
of the lowest menial. 

In that humble stable chamber I found John 
Weston, whose place I was to take. He was a 
youth of twenty or thereabouts, and had a shrewd 
but not unkindly face. To Jane’s brief announce- 
ment : ‘‘This is Benjamin Mathews, the boy who 
is to do your work,” he replied with some sarcasm 
I thought : “And for poorer pay I suspect,” at 
which both he and the woman laughed. 

When we were alone, however, he put his hand 
in mine saying heartily : 

“lam glad to know you, Benjamin, and to 
share this room with you for a single night. It 
will give me a chance to learn whether you can 
do all my work,” and the emphasis he put upon 
the little word “all ” led me to look up quickly 


I AM A FREQUENTER OP GREELE’S TAVERN. 19 

at him, to find that he was regarding me with a 
keenness which seemed to read me through and 
through. 

Wondering what part of his work he was afraid 
I could not do I waited for him to go on, which he 
did in a way that puzzled me even more than the 
emphasis he had put into his words, or the intent 
look he was giving me, for I could not see what 
it had to do with the matter we were discuss- 
ing. 

“ I suppose you have heard how the patriots 
threw overboard that tea down at Boston last 
December ? ” he asked with a chuckle. 

“Yes,” I admitted, forgetting my wonderment 
at the question in my sudden recollection of the 
exciting tale. “ Colonel Samuel Thompson, the 
member of the Provincial Congress from our dis- 
trict, sent home the news. It was the sixteenth 
day of December that it occurred, and seventeen 
of the patriots dressed up as Indians to do tho 
work. They went on board the two ships and 
the brig which contained the tea, and, breaking 
open the three hundred and forty-two chests, 
emptied the loose tea out into the water. They 
say there was a pile all around the vessels as high 
as their decks,” and I laughed aloud as the picture 
of those great heaps rose before my mind. 


A TORY'S REVENGE. 


So 

What do you think of the deed ? ” he queried, 
watching me still very intently. 

‘‘ Think of it ? I exclaimed. What can any 
true patriot think of it, but to wish he might have 
been one of the brave fellows to do the deed ? ” a 
reply which seemed to greatly please my com- 
panion. 

Do you know Colonel Samuel Thompson!” 
he inquired a moment or two later. ‘‘ I think 
you spoke of him.” 

“ I have seen him many times,” I responded. 

He is a bold, daring man, who will be heard 
from in the defense of the colonies should we 
have trouble with the king, but I doubt if he 
even knows there is such a boy as Benjamin 
Mathews.” 

‘‘ Never mind, he may know of you yet,” 
Master Weston replied consolingly, ‘‘for I am 
sure you too could be counted on in defense of the 
colonies.” 

Again, his searching gaze was upon me, but I 
looked him unfalteringly in the face as I replied : 

“Young as lam I have been taught there is 
one thing dearer than life, and that is liberty.” 

“I see you can be trusted to do all my work,” 
he immediately remarked with the same peculiar 
emphasis he had used before. “I will, however, 


I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 21 

keep you up no longer, for you must be tired with 
your long tramp. I have a trip down town, and 
may not be in until quite late, but I will take 
care not to disturb you with my coming. Good 
night,” and a moment later he had left me alone 
in the loft. 

Five minutes after Master Weston had de- 
parted I had forgotten my talk with him, my in- 
terview with Miss Dora, and my long tramp from 
Brunswick, in the sound and refreshing sleep 
which comes to a thoroughly tired boy ; nor did 
I again realize where I was, or the prospect be- 
fore me, until I was awakened by my bedfellow 
who called out : 

Hurry and dress, Ben. This is my last, and 
your first day, in the employ of Samuel Coulson. 
There is, therefore, much for me to show you, so 
let us get about it.” 

I obeyed, and before the sun set again had 
found that I was expected to be chore-boy, 
hostler, cowherd, gardener, and boatman, a com- 
bination of duties so onerous I realized I should 
have but few minutes I could call my own. 

So busy were we I do not now remember that 
I once recalled the strange conversation Master 
Weston had held with me the night before, and 
doubtless it would have soon dropped entirely 


22 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


from my memory but for an equally strange act 
on his part ere the day closed. 

We were coming up from the boathouse, where 
we had been that I might become acquainted 
with my duties down there, and had reached 
a long, low, one-story building on which there 
was the sign of a public house, when John 
stopped. 

Have you ever heard of Mistress Greele’s 
tavern ? ’’ he suddenly asked, fixing his eyes on 
me again with that intent gaze. 

‘‘Yes,” I replied. 

“ Tell me what you know of it,” he returned. 

“ The Tories call it ‘ a hot-bed of disloyalty,’ ” I 
said with a laugh. 

“Yes, ” he admitted ; “ but why ? ” 

“It is where the patriots always meet for their 
deliberations,” I answered. “ When the tax was 
put on tea our county delegates gathered there 
and resolved to buy no more tea until the duty 
was repealed ; and it is where the American As- 
sociation, formed for the purpose of opposing all 
tyrannical monopoly of trade and manufactures, 
have their meetings. I heard Captain Nehemiah 
Curtis of Harpswell saying not long ago that 
they had decided that no English goods of any kind 
should be landed here.” 


I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 23 

You are well informed about the affairs of 
the town though you have just come here,” my 
companion remarked with a pleasant smile. I 
am surer than ever you can do all my work.” 

Instantly his strange talk of the previous 
evening returned to my mind but, before I could 
give it much thought, he continued : 

‘^Well, this is Mistress Greele’s tavern, and I 
have some good friends in there I wish you to 
meet ; then he led the way into the building. 

I followed him more perplexed by this act than 
by anything he had said to me. Down a narrow 
corridor, like one who was familiar with the place, 
he went to a door in the rear of the house on which 
he tapped softly three times. 

Come in,” a voice immediately responded, and 
we obeyed to find ourselves in the presence of five 
grave and dignified men, who were evidently ex- 
pecting us. For over to them Master Weston 
walked, and without any further ceremony than a 
courteous deference said : 

‘‘ This is the lad, good sirs, about whom I have 
told you. His name is Benjamin Mathews, and 
from what I have learned of him I am convinced 
he will take my place, and do all my work.” 

Then turning to me he went on : 

Benjamin, this is General Jedediah Preble, 


24 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


and this is Colonel Enoch Freeman, and this is 
Squire Theophilus Parsons, and this is Doctor 
Joseph Coffin, and this is Master John Pagan.’’ * 

I shook hands with each gentleman as he was 
presented, but with a bewilderment I could not 
overcome, for I could not understand why I, a 
mere boy, should, in less than twenty-four hours 
after I had reached Falmouth, be introduced to a 
committee of men, who, as I knew the moment I 
heard their names, were not only leading citizens 
of the town, but as well-known patriots as there 
were in all the province. Nor did the words 
spoken by General Preble as soon as I was intro- 
duced relieve that bewilderment. 

We are sure you are right. Master Weston,” 
he said. ^‘One look into that lad’s face is suffi- 
cient to warrant a hope on our part of the most 
faithful service from him, and he will now know 
where to find us ; ” and then with marked cour- 
tesy he bowed us out of the room. 

‘‘ How am I to serve those men ?” I asked my 
comrade the moment the door closed upon us. 

“ I will tell you when we reach the little room 
in the stable loft,” was his reply ; a reply with 

* I find all these names on the official list of the Falmouth 
Safety committee at this time, which consisted of nineteen 
members— Editor, 


I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 25 

which I was forced tcf be content, for I could get 
nothing more out of him. 

But even when we were in the little chamber 
he did not seem in a hurry to explain a matter I 
was both curious and anxious to know more about. 
Instead he busied himself in packing his few be- 
longings into a bundle he could carry on his back, 
for, as he told me, he had a long tramp before 
him, and expected to he many miles away before 
he slept, though he did not tell where he was 
going. 

At length, however, his preparations were com- 
pleted, and the pack, with my help, securely 
fastened to his shoulders. Then turning his keen 
eyes upon me he said : 

‘‘ Ben, you will never disclose to any one else 
what I am now about to reveal to you, unless 
ordered to do so by the Safety Committee you 
met to-night ? I ask it for the sake of the 
cause.” 

If it is for the cause’s sake, John,” I replied, 
‘‘you may trust me.” 

“I knew it,” he responded, giving my hand a 
grip that made me wince. “ Come here.” 

He led me over to the east end of the loft, where 
was the stout planking which separated the stable 
from the house. 


26 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Do you see any difference in these boards ? ’’ 
he inquired. 

I examined them carefully, pressing against 
each plank in turn, but all seemed alike, so I re- 
plied : ‘‘No.” 

“ Take the third one from the south corner,” 
he directed, “and, putting one hand at its top, and 
the other at its bottom, push it from you.” 

I did so, and to my surprise the plank went in 
enough to slip by the adjoining one, leaving an 
opening through which a person could easily 
pass. 

“Step in, and tell me what you see,” my com- 
rade now said. 

I obeyed, and as soon as my eyes became used 
to the darkness I replied : 

“ There is nothing here but an attic, the one 
over the kitchen, though there is a door at the 
farther end, I think.” 

“You are not looking where I meant,” John 
explained. “ What is that attached to the board 
at your right ? ” 

“An empty box,” I exclaimed, thrusting my 
hand into the narrow receptacle. “What is it 
for?” 

“ Every night after your work is over,” Master 
Weston went on gravely, “ you are to remove this 


I AM A FREQUENTER OF GREELE’S TAVERN. 27 

plank, and look into that box. If there is a letter 
in it, you are to take it out and carry it at once 
to the committee you met to-night, and whom you 
will find waiting for it. Should they give you any 
letter in return, you are to bring it hack with you 
and put it into the box. Always he sure, how- 
ever, that your act is unobserved. Come out now, 
and I’ll show you how to close the slide.” 

I must have proved an apt scholar, for after 
two or three trials I could open and close the 
secret passage as noiselessly and dexterously as 
he. Then he said : 

“ My work is done ; good-by,” and he held out 
his hand for a parting grip. 

One thing more,” I cried as I took his hand ; 

you have not told me who puts the letters here. 
Whose messenger am I ? ” 

‘‘It is not for me to tell you,” he answered, 
“ nor is it necessary for you to know. You have 
been told your part. See that you do it faithfully 
and well,” and the next instant he had disap- 
peared down the stairs. 

Puzzle as I would over the strange mission upon 
which I had entered I could hit upon no satis- 
factory solution of it. I could not understand 
why there should he a secret communication 
between the Coulson household and the Safety 


28 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Committee of the town ; nor could I decide with 
any certainty upon the member of the family who 
was holding that communication. 

But that it was a constant thing was sure, for 
ten times within the next three weeks I found 
letters in the hidden box, which I carried to 
Greele’s tavern ; and thrice I brought back mes- 
sages to deposit in that receptacle. Then a thing 
happened which revealed what, to me at least, 
were two surprising facts about the household of 
which I was an inmate. 


CHAPTER III. 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 

It was the morning after I had carried my 
tenth message to Greele’s tavern that Enoch 
Freeman came into the garden where I was at 
work. He had run into the yard several times 
for a friendly chat since the night I first met 
him, and I not only felt quite well acquainted 
with him, but liked him better and better. He 
resembled his honored father. Colonel Freeman, 
in looks, and had the same hearty way in greet- 
ing you, that won your heart. 

This time, however, he was accompanied by 
another lad, whom I knew to be Samuel Deane, 
the minister’s * son, though I had never spoken 
with him before ; and like those who were much 
in a hurry, and could spare but the briefest 
moment, they came up to me. Enoch was the 
spokesman, and said : 

* Rev. Dr. Samuel Deane, who had been many years pastor 
in Falmouth, and who has himself left an account of the 
burning of the town. — Editor. 

29 


30 


A. TORY’S REVENGE. 


This is Samuel Deane, Ben.” 

I acknowledged the introduction, and then my 
friend went on hastily : 

“ There is to be a town meeting at nine o’clock. 
Important news has come that calls for some 
action on the part of the people, so father has 
sent Sam and I and a half dozen other lads to 
call them together. We thought you’d like to 
and know of it, and ran in to tell you.” 

Before I could thank him for the information 
he and his comrade were on their way to the 
street, where they parted, one going in one di- 
rection, and the other in another, as though they 
would expedite the work to which they had been 
assigned — and there was need of it, for it was 
already within an hour of the time they had 
named. 

My first thought as I continued my planting 
was that I would attend the coming meeting 
without going to the house for permission to do 
so. I argued that I could easily make up the 
lost time and, therefore, no injury would be 
done Captain Coulson. But I had been taught 
to be honorable in all dealings, even the smallest, 
and somehow I could not persuade myself that 
it would be right to take even an hour from my 
work without the consent of those over me. So 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 31 

fifteen minutes before nine I went to the house 
and inquired for Miss Dora. When she appeared 
I told her about the gathering and asked that I 
might be allowed to attend it. 

A mass meeting of the townspeople !” she 
exclaimed with hashing eyes, which I mistook 
for excitement, or unusual interest in the event. 
‘‘ Some important tidings that has called them 
together ! What can the — ” suddenly she checked 
herself, and I never knew what she intended to 
say, though I am now sure it was something 
very unkind about the patriots. 

For a moment or two she gazed thoughtfully 
at me as though trying to come to some decision, 
then she went on with one of the sweetest smiles 
I ever saw on the lips of a woman : 

‘‘ Go by all means, Benjamin ! I would not 
have you miss this meeting for anything; and 
when you return come and tell me all about it. 
I shall want to know everything.’’ 

“ Certainly, Miss Dora, you shall have a full 
report of the proceedings,” I answered, not for a 
moment suspecting I was falling into a trap the 
wily woman had set for me, and that I would be 
giving her information that would be sent to the 
British headquarters at Boston as quickly as a 
swift courier could carry it. 


n 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Elated at my leave of absence, and quite ready 
to believe that Miss Dora was the member of the 
household who was putting the patriotic messages 
into the hidden box, I hastened down the street 
determined that she should have the best account 
of the morning assembly it was in my power to 
give ! That resolve will explain how I am able 
even at this late day to tell so minutely what 
occurred there. 

I ran in with Enoch Freeman and Samuel 
Deane as I reached the hall, and together we en- 
tered the building, which was already filled, 
though it still lacked a few minutes of the des- 
ignated hour ; while before the meeting was 
called to order the room was packed to a point of 
suffocation. Colonel Freeman presided, and a 
hush went over the great audience as he rapped 
for their attention. 

“Fellow-citizens,” he said, “General Preble 
will address 3^ou.” 

With his tall form drawn to its fullest height, 
his eyes hashing with the indignation he felt, and 
his voice ringing out clear and strong in its in- 
tense patriotism, the distinguished speaker began : 

“Neighbors and friends, it has already been 
reported to you how two months ago the king’s 
parliament, in retaliation for the destruction of 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 33 


tea in Boston harbor last December, passed a 
threefold act striking in part against that un- 
fortunate city, and in part against all the col- 
onists. Let me recall to your memories the three 
provisions of that shameful enactment. The 
first provides that the port of Boston shall be 
closed to all trade on and after the first day of 
June, that is three days hence ; the second pro- 
vides for a change in our charter on August 
first, by which the power is vested in the crown 
to appoint our councillors, who have heretofore 
been chosen by the General Court ; the third 
provides that any officer accused with a capital 
offense shall be sent to England for trial. Thus 
it is, fellow-citizens, that our most sacred rights 
are taken from us ; thus it is that our liberties 
are trampled upon. Shall we submit without 
emphatic protest to such treatment even though 
the hand of one who calls himself our rightful 
sovereign deals the blow ? ” 

No ! No ! ” a hundred voices cried out. 

‘‘We all say ‘ no,’ ” he went on after the shouts 
had subsided, “ when such laws are enacted ; but 
there is something worse than that : it is to have 
such laws enforced ; and this is the determina- 
tion of the king. For, as we are credibly in- 
formed — ” and it seemed to me that at this mo- 
3 


34 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


ment he allowed his eyes to rest directly upon 
me — General Thomas Gage has already arrived 
in Boston, commissioned as the military ruler of 
the colony with special instructions from the 
crown to enforce all three provisions of the abom- 
inable act.” 

Down with the tyrant ! Down with the 
tyrant ! ” the assembly shouted as one man. 

‘‘It is well to say : ‘ Down with the tyrant,’ 
but how ? ” continued the speaker. “ Already he 
has given his negative to thirteen of our newly 
chosen councillors; already he has adjourned the 
General Court to Salem. Already are there 
threats in the air that he will prorogue the As- 
sembly unless it does his bidding. So soon does 
he show his high hand.” 

I cannot describe the effect of those words, for 
who can describe a silence? Over the crowd 
there now came a hush so oppressive that it 
checked the speech of General Preble as effect- 
ively as the shouts or the plaudits of his hearers 
would have done. With flashing eyes, and heav- 
ing breasts, and clenched hands, and stern faces, 
the patriots stood there gazing at the speaker 
until a voice somewhere in the room said clearly, 
but quietly : 

“ Tell us what we are to do, and we’ll do it.” 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 35 

That utterance broke the spell and a peal of 
voices rang out : 

“ Yes ! yes ! tell us what is expected of us ! ” 

“You are called here to-day,” the general an- 
swered in tones that thrilled us, “to place on rec- 
ord a threefold resolution, a resolution which 
shall include a demand, a denunciation, and a 
pledge ; a demand that the royal mandate shall 
be repealed ; a denunciation of the tyrannical acts 
of the new governor ; and a pledge to our col- 
leagues in Boston of our help.” 

“ We’ll do it ! We’ll do it ! Draw them up ! ” 
a score of voices shouted. 

Taking up a paper which, until that moment, 
had been lying on the table, and which proved to 
be a draft of resolutions covering the very points 
he had mentioned. General Preble read it through 
in loud, clear tones, and then moved its adoption. 
In a trice the motion was carried without a dis- 
senting vote. 

“We are ready for a motion to adjourn,” the 
chairman here announced. 

“ One moment, sir, before we go,” Master John 
Pagan exclaimed leaping to his feet. “I move 
that on June first the bells of our town be muf- 
fled and rung all day as an expression of our sym- 
pathy for the unfortunate inhabitants of Boston.” 


36 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


This move was immediately voted, and Colonel 
Freeman, General Preble, and Squire Parsons 
were appointed a committee to arrange for its 
execution. 

‘‘We shall need bell-ringers,” the Colonel said 
with a smile, “ and after our adjournment we 
shall be glad to receive the names of all who are 
willing to serve the cause in this way. Here is a 
chance for our younger colleagues to show their 
patriotism.” 

“ Come on,” Enoch Freeman exclaimed the 
moment the meeting was adjourned, “let us be 
among the volunteers,” and he led the way up to 
the platform with Sam Deane and myself close at 
his heels. When our names had been enrolled 
we left the building, and I hastened home to tell 
Miss Dora what I had seen and heard. 

I found her on the porch, waiting for me, anx- 
ious to listen to my tale as I then fully believed 
because of her love for the cause ; but really wait- 
ing as I now know because of a fear she had that 
I would escape her, and with flushed cheek and 
heart all afire I told her, omitting no important 
detail, all the proceedings of the morning. 

How excited she became before I had finished ! 
Leaping from the bench on which she was sitting 
she walked the stoop struggling with her feelings. 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 3Y 

Again and again she started to speak, but checked 
herself until I had done. Then she said sweetly : 

“ Thank you, Benjamin ; you have done so 
nicely this time, I sliall want to use you in this 
way again. Always let me know when the town’s 
people are going to hold a meeting. You may 
now return to your work.” 

It shames me now to tell it, and yet it is true. 
So cleverly was I deceived by that woman I went 
back to the garden saying to myself what an 
hour or two before I had conjectured : 

“ You are the one. Miss Dora, who is in com- 
munication with the Town Committee. I know 
it as well as though you had told me,” and I 
smiled complacently at my shrewdness in making 
the discovery. Three days later I learned what 
an idiot I had been. 

It happened in this way. I was in the belfry 
of the Congregational meeting-house with Sam 
Deane and Enoch Freeman, serving my time as a 
bell-ringer. With Sam’s father as the preacher 
in the building, and Enoch’s father as the chair- 
man of the committee of arrangements, we three 
lads had easily managed to have our time and 
place of service come together ; so there we were 
all the afternoon of June first, each taking a spell 
of a half hour at the rope, until we had com- 


38 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


pleted our allotment of six hours— two apiece— in 
the work. 

We were in an hour of the ending, and I had 
relieved Enoch for my last bout with the bell, 
when he exclaimed excitedly : 

If I live, there is Captain Coulson on his way 
up from the docks. He must have just arrived 
from Boston. Yes, there’s his vessel now an- 
chored off in the harbor. Quick, Ben ! Give 
Sam the rope and scud for home. Well finish 
your part of the work. If you go out the rear 
door of the meeting-house and cut across the fields 
you will get there before him. Hurry now ! ” 

“ Why should I hasten back until my part of 
this work is over ? ” I replied, and refusing to 
surrender the cord to Sam, who had stepped for- 
ward to take it. What if I did come off with- 
out telling any one where I was going ? I can 
explain where I have been when I return 
to the house.” 

With wide open eyes my comrades stared at 
me as if I were crazy. Then Enoch gasped : 

“Tell Captain Coulson what you have been 
doing here this afternoon ! Why, he will kill you !” 

“Why should he do that?” I asked with as 
little concern as I could assume, for I was really 
alarmed at his words. 



Then Enoch gasped : “Tell Captain Coulson what you have 
been doing here this afternoon ! Why, he will kill you ! ’ ’ 
Page 38. A Tory's Revenge 



IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 39 

“ Why, don’t you know, the Captain is a Tory, 
the very worst Tory in all this section?” both 
lads cried incredulously. 

‘‘No,” I confessed, giving the rope to Sam in 
preparation for my flight. Then a wave of hope 
swept over me. 

“But Miss Dora,” I exclaimed, “she is a 
patriot, and will protect me.” 

“ She a patriot ! ” answered the boys with 
withering scorn ; “why she is a worse Tory than 
her brother, and you better not tell her what you 
have been doing ! There ! run on ; you may yet 
reach the house in time to save yourself.” 

I think the chief thought in my mind as I 
hurried out of the rear end of the meeting-house, 
and up a side street to the Coulson dwelling was 
that my informers must be mistaken about Miss 
Dora. Yet I knew they would not intentionally 
deceive me and, therefore, gave a sigh of relief 
when I entered our stable undiscovered as I be- 
lieved. 

That relief was short-lived, however, for before 
I had finished caring for the first horse an angry 
voice called out : 

“Young man, where have you been all this 
afternoon ? ” 

I had prepared myself in a measure for such a 


40 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


question, and, stepping out of the stall in which 
I was, I confronted Miss Dora with a smiling 
face. 

I told you. Miss Dora,” I said innocently, 
about the ringing of the muffled bells to-day, 
and believing you would want me to do my part 
I have been at it for several hours. My ! how 
my arms ache.” 

Now that I had been informed she was a Tory 
I had little difficulty in reading her face. I knew 
immediately that my answer had disconcerted 
her. For a moment she struggled to control her- 
self, and keep up the pretense she had made only 
three days before ; then her real feelings assumed 
the mastery, and she screamed out : 

Thought I would want you to help the rebels 
in their dirty work ! I had rather have seen them 
all thrown into the bay ! To think that a mem- 
ber of the Coulson household has actually helped 
ring those bells ! It will be a laughing-stock all 
over town before morning. You shall pay dearly 
for this. My brother is at home, and when he 
has done with you, you will never dare speak to 
a traitor again, much less help him ! ” and she 
flounced away. 

I went on with my chores in a state of trep- 
idation. I wanted to run away, and yet I felt it 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 41 

would be a cowardly thing to do. I had done 
nothing I was ashamed of, nothing hut what I 
would do again though I suffered for it ; and I 
decided to stay and face the consequences of my 
act whatever they might he. Possibly I was in- 
fluenced in my decision by a hope that Captain 
Coulson would be more reasonable than his sister 
had been. 

I do not know whether Miss Dora was long in 
flnding her brother, or whether he purposely de- 
layed his coming until my work was done. But 
I remember I had finished my last chore at the 
barn, and was about to go to the kitchen for my 
supper as usual, when he stepped through the 
door. One glance at him dashed every hope of 
mercy I had expected from him to the ground. 
He was livid with passion, and before I could say 
a word hissed out : 

‘‘So I am harboring a traitor, am I? Well, 
I’ll show you how I deal with traitors wherever 
I find them on land or sea,” and he sprang upon 
me with the fury of a tiger. 

In his powerful clutch I was as helpless as a 
babe, and in an instant he dragged me to a post 
to which he speedily tied me, face against it. 
Every effort on my part to explain why I had 
helped to ring the bells was drowned in a torrent 


42 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


of blasphemous abuse, and at length I resolved 
to bear any punishment he might inflict with- 
out a murmur. 

But in that resolve I was not prepared for what 
speedily took place. Pulling my shirt out of my 
breeches, he rolled it up until my back was bare 
to the shoulders ; then he drew out from under 
his coat a cat-o-nine-tails. 

At the sight of the cruel weapon I changed my 
resolution, and made a single remonstrance. 

‘‘You have no right to punish me in this way, 
sir,” I said. 

“Haven’t I,” he cried gleefully, and stepping 
around where I could see him plainly. “We’ll 
see about that ! Look at these papers ! ” and put- 
ting the lash under his arm, he drew some docu- 
ments from his pocket. 

“Those are your indenture papers,” he went on 
glibly, “ by which your mother has bound you to 
me until you are of age. I rather think those 
give me the right to punish you as I choose, and 
I choose to let every drop of your rebel blood out 
of you here and now.” 

I was dumfounded. I could not understand 
how my mother had given those papers without 
consulting me. It never occurred to me the man 
was lying, as he indeed was ; lying that he might 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 43 

appear to have a legal right to whip me, and so 
close my mouth against all complaint. 

Eestoring the papers to his pocket, he seized the 
cat-o-nine- tails, and began his fiendish work. 
Twenty times that lash cut the air with a whish 
I can hear after the lapse of all these years ! 
Twenty times it fell upon my bare back ! Twenty 
times it sank into my fiesh deep enough to draw 
the blood ! How much longer the brute would 
have flogged me I do not know. He stopped 
because I fainted. 

When I recovered consciousness I was lying 
on my bed in the stable loft. It was dark, so I 
knew I had been there some time, but how long 
I could not tell. I was thirsty, and attempted to 
get upon my feet, with a vague idea of descend- 
ing to the well for a refreshing draught, but the 
next moment I fell back with a groan I could 
not repress. 

Then there was a low step in the kitchen attic ; 
a moment later the secret slide was pushed back, 
and a woman draped all in white, and looking to 
me like an angel, stepped into my room. She 
held a light in one hand, and a cup containing 
some kind of ointment in the other. Placing her 
candle on my stand, she bent over me saying 
gently : 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘Poor boy! You have been treated shame- 
fully, but I will do all I can to relieve your suffer- 
ing.” 

Then she turned me over and rubbed my lacer- 
ated back with the cool mixture, an application 
that soothed the torn flesh, eased the terrible pain, 
and gave me a relief I would not have believed 
possible five minutes before. 

“Now for some supper,” she remarked with 
a smile, and leaving me for the attic. The 
bowl of cool and delicious porridge she brought 
must have been near at hand for she returned in 
an instant. Putting it to my lips she let me drain 
the dish to the last drop. Then she said in the 
same gentle voice : 

“ There ! I think you will be comfortable for 
the night. See if you can go to sleep. I will sit 
by you for a while.” 

“But who are you?” I pleaded. “Tell me 
that before I sleep.” 

“ I am Mistress Coulson,” she replied. 

“But I thought you were an invalid,” I ex- 
claimed. 

“I am,” she answered simply, and now I saw 
the marks of suffering on her beautiful face ; 
“ but when an injustice is done one who loves the 
cause I can find the strength to minister to him. 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON GETS ANGRY. 45 

Y ou are my hero, ” and she kissed me as my mother 
might have done. 

At her words a flood of light rushed in upon me. 

I have been your messenger to the Commit- 
tee,” I said. 

‘‘Yes,” she acknowledged frankly. “The 
Coulsons are all Tories, but I am a Thompson, a 
sister of Colonel Samuel Thompson of Brunswick, 
and like him I love the colonies.” 

She was silent a few minutes, and then as 
though her conduct needed fuller explanation she 
continued : 

“ My husband and his sister are the paid agents 
of the king, in touch with his minions in Boston 
and London. They are doing all they can to 
thwart the cause and injure the patriots. I work 
to undo what they are constantly doing. But of 
course I am obliged to act in secret. John Weston 
was my messenger until you came, and you have 
served me faithfully since. But we will not talk 
more to-night. I shall see you again soon, though 
you must not tell any one of my visits. Now 
close your eyes and go to sleep.” 

I did as she wished, and dreamed I had entered 
into a compact with her to watch and frustrate 
every plan of Captain Coulsonand Miss Dora’s ; a 
dream which soon came to pass. 


CHAPTER IV. 


IN WHICH THE SLOOP OP WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 

It w’as light when I awoke, and save a stiffness 
and soreness in my back I felt quite like myself. 
Believing I could attend to my duties as usual, I 
made an effort to rise, but a hand touched my 
ajm, and the voice of Mistress Coulson said : 

‘ ^ No, no, Ben ! Lie still ; we shall keep you 
here to-day.” 

But what will the Captain say ? ” I protested. 

He will not disturb you,” she answered with a 
reassuring smile. Then noticing my look of 
wonderment she continued : 

‘^He has already been here, and, finding you 
were still lying with your eyes closed, became 
quite alarmed about you. Now that his anger is 
over he realizes it would not be safe to have it 
become known in the neighborhood that you were 
seriously ill from the flogging he had given you. 
So he looked up Jane and directed her to give you 
every attention necessary to insure your recovery.” 

Here she paused a moment as though uncertain 
46 


THE SLOOP OP WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 47 

whether to make a further confidant of me, and 
then, evidently deciding to have no secrets between 
us, went on : 

‘‘ Jane, though the Captain is not aware of it, 
is on our side, and knowing of my first visit to 
you, immediately reported her master’s directions 
to me. We agreed that it would be good policy 
to keep you in bed for a day or two, however well 
you might feel ; and should the Captain or Miss 
Dora take a notion to visit you, you must help us 
out by appearing to be much sicker than you are. 
But I hardly think either of them will trouble 
you.” 

I must go now lest I be missed from my room. 
Jane will bring you your meals, and later in 
the day when the way is cleat forme to make you 
another visit without fear of detection, I shall do 
so, for I want to have a long talk with you ; ” and 
in another minute she had slipped into the little 
attic, closing the panel behind her. 

It was night before she came again, and no 
sooner was she seated by my bedside, when she 
explained the reason for her delay : 

‘‘I found the Captain and his sister were going 
to spend the evening at the house of one of their 
loyalist friends, and knowing that would give us 
the opportunity for several hours of uninter- 


48 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


rupted conversation, I purposely put off my visit 
until now. Jane is on the watch, and will warn 
us if we are likely to be disturbed, so we can talk 
away without fear.” 

‘‘I am glad,” I responded, ‘^for this has been 
a long day to me.” 

‘‘I presume it has,” she admitted soothingly; 
‘^but tell me what you were thinking about. 
Have you laid your plans to leave here as soon as 
your back is well ? ” 

‘‘ How can I ? ” I inquired. I am bound out 
to the Captain until I am of age.” 

Who told you that ? ” she asked quickly. 

‘‘He did,” I replied, giving her the full cir- 
cumstances under which he had made that decla- 
ration. 

“He is a worse man than I thought him,” she 
exclaimed indignantly. “ He has no such papers, 
and had no right to strike you, nor can he keep 
you here against your will.” 

“You are sure of this. Mistress Coulson?” I 
cried, sitting up in the bed in my excitement. 

“1 am,” was her positive reply. 

“Then I shall leave in the morning,” I de- 
clared, for I was hot with anger at the imposi- 
tion which had been played upon me. 

“ No one can blame you,” she said, “ but,” and 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 49 

the face she now turned upon me was resolute 
with heroism, ‘‘ I would suffer all you have and 
more for the cause.” 

I understand you,” I faltered, for in the light 
which came from her words I felt like a coward. 
Then to retrieve myself in my own estimation, if 
not in hers, I added : 

Show me how I can serve you, or the cause, 
good mistress, and I will stay here though I am 
flogged every week.” 

‘‘ Spoken like my hero,” she murmured softly, 
and kissing my forehead. We are now ready 
for our long talk together.” 

I cannot burden these pages with the conver- 
sation that now followed. Freely she revealed 
to me the assistance she was trying to give the 
patriots, and I was amazed to learn that that 
weak, suffering woman, confined for the most 
part to her room, had organized and was main- 
taining at her own expense a regular, though 
secret, line of communication between Falmouth 
and all the colonies. No important event could 
occur from the Carolinas to the Canadian border 
without its being promptly reported to her, and 
through her to the chief men of our town. Nor 
did the scope of her work lie entirely within our 
own lines. Through her shrewdness both her 

4 


60 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


husband and his sister were constantly contrib- 
uting items of news from the British in Boston and 
in London which were speedily transmitted to 
our leaders. 

Along with these astonishing revelations to me, 
she showed plainly how I, by feigning submission 
to the Captain, could be of inestimable service to 
her and the cause which was so dear to both our 
hearts. 

‘^If you remain,” she said, ‘‘I shall know I 
have a helper tried and proved, and one who 
will every day become more indispensable to me 
and the work I am trying to do. But if you go 
I have no John Weston to test the lad who takes 
your place, and, at a time when the cause most 
needs the help I am giving, I might be crippled 
for months. Matters are fast approaching a crisis 
in our colonies, impatient submission must soon 
break out into open resistance to the tyrannical 
oppression of the king, and there will be an op- 
portunity in the coming months for you, in the 
capacity of an humble servitor in this household, 
to do the cause a service which cannot be under- 
valued. The question is, whether you will be 
willing to undertake it ? ” 

Long before she had finished I had come to a 
decision, and placing my hand in hers I sealed a 


THE SLOOP OP WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 51 


compact which terminated only when Falmouth 
was in ashes, and she who had striven so faith- 
fully to help along the cause of liberty was no 
more. 

I see now after the lapse of all these years that 
another feeling than that of patriotism entered 
into my decision. I was glad to serve the cause, 
but I was no less eager to avenge myself on the 
man who had so grievously wronged me. Z— — ^ 

It is not, therefore, the messages I carried to 
Greele’s tavern during the next twelve months, 
but the instances in which I outwitted Captain 
Coulson and frustrated his plans that rise most 
prominently before me as I tell this tale. 

I know it was by my hand our town leaders re- 
ceived their first information of the proroguing of 
the Assembly by General Gage in June ; their first 
tidings of the ‘‘Declaration of Eights” passed by 
the second Continental Congress in September ; 
their first account of the Committees of Safety and 
Supply appointed by the Provincial Congress in 
the following February ; and their first news of 
the battle of Lexington two months later. 

But as those events have no direct connection 
with the circumstances which led up to the burn- 
ing of Falmouth, I only mention them, and tell 
you rather of the times when I thwarted Captain 


52 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Coulson in his plans, and so egged him on to that 
desire for revenge which culminated in his plot 
to destroy his native town. 

I remember well how elated I was when I made 
my first successful move against the Captain. It 
was in August, when the county delegates met in 
the Court-house, and called Sheriff William Tyng 
before them, demanding to know whether he in- 
tended to act under the new statute of Parlia- 
ment which gave sheriffs the power of selecting 
jurors.” Before those stern and unrelenting 
patriots the unhappy officer quailed, and solemnly 
promised “not to conform to the requirements 
of the act, unless by the general consent of the 
county,” a promise which the assembly voted to 
be satisfactory. 

But that that officer did not mean to keep his 
pledge is shown by an interview he had with 
Captain Coulson that same evening, and which I 
overheard. I happened to be lying under some 
trees at the west of the house, for the night was 
a hot one and the air in my chamber over the 
stable was stifling, when I saw him enter the 
gate. Suspecting his object in coming, and that 
Captain Coulson would take him into the library, 
I leaped to my feet and ran around to the kitchen. 
From there I went into a pantry, whose rear par- 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 53 

tition formed one of the walls of the library. 
Here by arrangement with Jane I had some time 
before made a hole through the plastering, large 
enough for me to see and hear what was going on 
in the other apartment, but small enough on the 
library side to escape detection unless specially 
searched for. 

Barely was my ear against the aperture before 
the two men came into the room, and seated 
themselves opposite each other at the table. Then 
in angry tones Master Tyng told of his summons 
before the convention, and the demand made of 
him, closing with the petulant words : 

‘‘Now rd like to know, Captain, if I, a good 
and loyal officer of the king, must submit to such 
treatment ? ” 

“By the eternal, no!” thundered the Tory, 
bringing his fist down heavily upon the table ; “ I 
will at once write out a full account of this day’s 
proceedings, and send it to General Gage, asking 
that a warship be sent down here to enforce your 
mandates. We’ll see if these rebels dare attempt 
to manage affairs in this high-handed way any 
longer.” 

“ Thank you, sir ! Thank you ! ” the sheriff 
responded with evident satisfaction. “ Will you 
send the account by a special messenger ? ” 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


U 

‘‘Nay, that is hardly necessary in this case,” 
the Captain replied. “The regular post goes 
out in the morning, and I will forward the report 
by that.” 

“ But is it safe ? ” questioned the other appre- 
hensively. 

“You simpleton ! ” ejaculated Captain Coulson. 
“ Do you suppose I send any letter direct to the 
general ? I shall inclose the paper in a package 
directed to my shipping agents, and they will 
forward it to the headquarters.” 

“ I see,” said his guest, taking no notice of the 
appellation bestowed upon him ; “ and I might 
have known you were too old at this business to 
be caught napping. Captain. It is all right, I am 
sure, and we ought to hear from the general in a 
few days,” and he rose to go. 

“ Yes,” assented Captain Coulson ; “but you’d 
better stay until I have written out my report of 
the assembly. There may be some things I wish 
to inquire more particularly about.” 

At this suggestion Master Tyng resumed his 
seat, and for an hour the two men were engaged, 
the one in telling, the other in writing out the 
story of the sheriff’s arraignment. They did not 
hesitate to prevaricate where it was for their in- 
terests to do so, and when they had completed 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 55 

their work they had produced a document calcu- 
lated to arouse the anger of the British com- 
mander, and lead him to an immediate action. 

‘‘There!” the Captain exclaimed as he folded 
up the paper and addressed it to the general, “ I 
will put this in here with these letters to my 
agents, and when the package is sealed who is 
going to suspect it is aught else than what it 
seems to be — a business matter ? ” 

As he spoke he took from a drawer a small 
bundle, placed the document he had just written 
in it, and wrapped the whole up in preparation 
for the wax. Before he could affix the seal, how- 
ever, a voice called him from the stairway. 

“It is my sister,” he explained, “I will see 
what she wishes.” 

“ I may as well go,” Master Tyng declared, also 
rising. “You don’t need my help in fixing the 
package. I am greatly obliged to you. Captain. 
It does one good to know there are a few hearts 
loyal to the king even here in Falmouth. Good- 
night.” 

They shook hands, and then one left the house, 
while the other went up- stairs to answer the call 
given him. 

As an inspiration it came to me that I could 
and ought to secuie the message prepared for the 


5G 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


British general ; and leaving the pantry I sped 
noiselessly through the dining-room, across the 
hall, and into the library. There lay the package 
awaiting its seal ; and it was but the work of a 
moment to undo it, slip out the paper addressed 
to the Britisher, and put it into my pocket. Then 
I returned the other papers to the wrapper, and 
left the bundle in the same position I had found it. 

Having accomplished my object I started to 
leave the room, but heard the Captain coming 
down the stairs. A glance showed me that my 
only hiding-place was under the great sofa at the 
farther end of the apartment, and with a dive I 
went under it. Hor was I any too soon, for the 
next instant Captain Coulson entered. 

Fortunately he saw nothing to arouse his sus- 
picion that his papers had been tampered with, 
and proceeded leisurely to seal, the package he 
had left on the table without reopening it. Then 
he sat down to read, and for more than an hour 
I was forced to lie there in my cramped quarters. 
But he at length departed to his chamber, and 
crawling out from my improvised hiding-place I 
made my way stealthily to my own room. 

The next day I put the paper I had secured 
into Colonel Freeman’s hands, and the commenda- 
tion he gave me, when he had read it, aroused in 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 57 

me a determination to intercept the Captain’s 
messages to the British headquarters as often as 
possible. 

I succeeded so well, sometimes in one way, and 
then in another, that before winter he received a 
letter from the general asking whether the rebels 
of Falmouth had become unusually inactive, or 
he had begun to sympathize with the miscreants. 
The latter insinuation angered the Captain more 
than an open reprimand would have done, and he 
set off for Boston post-haste to learn what his 
commander-in-chief meant. 

I expected that upon his return he would begin 
an investigation which might reveal the part I 
had played in the miscarriage of his messages. 
But, as it proved, the search begun in the city 
had disclosed a clerk in the office of the shipping 
agents who was serving the patriots, and to him, 
though he strenuously denied it, was attributed a 
work which had actually been done by own hand ; 
so I providentially escaped detection at that time. 

Several weeks after the events which I have 
related transpired I made another discovery from 
my ear-hole in the pantry. My employer was 
closeted with the captain of one of his vessels 
which was about to sail for England. 

I have sent for you,” he was saying to his 


58 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


caller as I took my place at the aperture, 
intrust to you a special and secret mission. I 
am, as you know, building a new ship, and she is 
to he a loyal one from keel to topmast. Every 
timber in her has been cut from my own woods ; 
every stroke of labor on her has been done by 
those who are faithful to the king ; and I do not 
propose that one of her yards or sails or ropes 
shall have been made by rebel hands. So I wish 
to send by you for her entire outfit. You are to 
store it on board with your other cargo, and 
quietly deliver it to me on your return.” 

Can it be done ? ” asked his guest as he took 
the paper on which the Captain had written a 
full description of the articles he desired. 

Bring the things I have ordered there, and 
I’ll find a way to land them,” was the confident 
reply. 

Very well, sir,” the man answered as he de- 
parted. 

The next time I had occasion to visit Greele’s 
tavern I reported this conversation to the com- 
mittee. 

‘‘We are glad to know of this,” General Preble 
replied, “ but tell no one else of the fact, and the 
moment you hear of the John and Mary’s return 
inform us.” 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 59 

It was a bright spring afternoon, and I was at 
work in the barn when Captain Coulson came 
hurriedly around to the building. 

^‘Ben,” he called out sharply, ^‘go down to 
the boathouse, launch the yawl, and get her 
ready to take me down the harbor. There is a 
vessel coming up which I think is the John and 
Mary. I’ll join you at the dock in a few minutes. ” 

Yes, sir,” I responded ; and, running up to 
my chamber for a jacket, I started down the 
street. 

At the next corner I met Colonel Freeman, and 
after greeting him, said in low tones : 

Captain Coulson’s ship, the John and Mary, 
is, we think, coming up the bay. Will you send 
Enoch down to the dock to watch ? If he sees 
me drop my handkerchief over the vessel’s side, 
he will know she has the outfit for the new ship 
on board, and can report the fact to you before I 
come ashore.” 

Certainly,” he responded in the same low 
way, and, confident I had arranged so that no 
suspicion would fall upon myself as the informant 
when Captain Coulson was summoned before the 
town leaders, I went on to the boathouse. Five 
minutes later the Captain joined me, and we 
pulled down the bay. 


60 


A. TORY’S REVENGE. 


In a half hour we ran alongside of the approach- 
ing craft, which proved to he the one we sought, 
and, mounting her deck, we came up the harbor 
on board of her. 

Long before she anchored, however, I had heard 
enough of the conversation which was taking 
place between her owner and her skipper to know 
that the order for the King George had been 
filled. So the moment I discovered Enoch Free- 
man strolling about an adjacent dock, I took out 
my handkerchief to blow my nose, and, losing 
my hold upon it, allowed it to flutter off into the 
water. 

Watching my friend furtively I had the satis- 
faction of seeing him soon turri about and saunter 
up the street, and I knew my signal had been 
noticed and understood. 

It was nearly an hour before Captain Coulson 
was ready to go ashore, and scarcely were we at 
the boathouse when General Preble and Squire 
Parsons appeared, and addressing the Captain, 
said respectfully but firmly : 

Sir, the town committee has assembled at 
Greele’s tavern, and sent us to invite you to meet 
them there.” 

If an angry glance could destroy men, the two 
patriots who stood there waiting serenely for the 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 61 

Tory’s reply would have been annihilated. For 
never did a man glare more savagely at his 
fellows ; nor was ever a man more wrathy than 
Captain Coulson now was. He was for a while 
too full of rage to speak, and then he cried out : 

This is an outrage, and you shall pay dearly 
for it ! ” / 

Calm yourself. Captain, and give us a definite 
reply,” was Master Preble’s cool answer. ‘‘Will 
you accompany us to the tavern, or shall we send 
an armed force for you ? ” 

If the demand of the patriots had aroused the 
ire of the royalist, this threat awoke his passion, 
and for a few minutes he tore around, heaping 
invective after invective upon the heads of the 
men who had dared to send for him, until his 
breath gave out. 

Then Squire Parsons took out his watch and 
noted the time, saying in unruffled tones : 

“You are wasting valuable time. Captain, and 
we’ll give you just two minutes to say whether 
you will go with us or not.” 

Whether it was the cool determination of the 
men he had to deal with that won, or the figure 
that Captain Coulson knew he would cut if he 
were marched through the streets by an armed 
band, I cannot say. I only know he suddenly 


62 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


yielded, and with a sullen : ‘‘I will go,” started 

up the street by the side of the men who had come 
for him. 

When a dozen feet away he turned about say- 
ing : 

‘‘You may as well go along, too, Ben ; I shall 
want some one to witness how I am treated ; ” 
and so I had the pleasure of being present at that 
famous interview. 

We were taken into the long room of the little 
inn, where the entire town committee, numbering 
a full score, was assembled, and Colonel Free- 
man, its presiding officer, thus addressed the Cap- 
tain : 

“We note, sir, that your sloop, the John and 
Mary, has arrived from England.” 

“ What if it has ? Is that any reason why I 
should be summoned here ? ” was the surly re- 
' spouse. 

f “ That depends on circumstances. Captain Coul- 
son,” the Colonel answered blandly. “We are 
credibly informed that this vessel brings an out- 
fit for your new ship and other articles which the 
Association has decided cannot be landed on these 
shores. This forces us to ask you to be present 
here to-day and explain why you openly defy us.” 

“ Curse your low, sneaking spies, whether they 


THE SLOOP OP WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 63 

are in this town, or across the water ! ” the in- 
furiated man exclaimed, stamping his foot in his 
rage. 

‘‘ I presume that is an admission that our in- 
formation is correct,” the chairman went on 
calmly, ‘^so, as the representative of this com- 
mittee I will tell you, you will not he allowed to 
unload your vessel in our harbor ; and you may 
as well give us your promise here and now that 
you will make no such attempt.” 

For some moments the Captain blustered, but 
found the patriots were inexorable, and so gave 
his pledge in these words : 

‘‘ I will not put the cargo of the John and Mary 
ashore ; ” and then he was allowed to go. 

When we reached the house I took the path for 
the barn, but he stopped me. 

‘‘ Come into the house,” he said, ‘‘I have an 
errand for you.” 

I obeyed and sat down, at his direction, in the 
hall, while he went on up-stairs. He must have 
been in search of Miss Dora, for I soon heard the 
low hum of their voices, though I could not dis- 
tinguish what they were saying. After a while, 
however, her voice rose shrill and sharp above 
his, exclaiming ; 

And so you, like the great coward you are, 


64 : 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


promised the rebels not to land your goods ? I 
thought you had more spunk than that, Samuel 
Coulson ! ’’ 

Stung by her taunt, he doubtless spoke more 
loudly in his reply than he intended : 

‘‘ I promised not to land the outfit ; but that 
does not prevent me from putting it on board the 
King George, for as you know she lies off the 
yard waiting for her rigging. It appears to me, 
Dora, that I have outwitted the committee.” 

‘‘ And when are you going to carry out your 
sharp trick ? ” she asked scornfully. 

“ This very night,” he replied. shall send 
Ben off to the sloop immediately with a note to 
her captain telling him to have all in readiness 
for the transfer, and at midnight I shall begin 
the work ; ” here his voice lowered, and I could 
not understand what else he said. 

A moment later he came down the stairs, went 
into the library, wrote the note for Captain Wil- 
liams, and sent me off with it. The fact that it 
was sealed, and I brought back a sealed reply to 
him, was, I presume, his reason for supposing I 
was in ignorance of his plans. Possibly that I 
might be kept in ignorance of them until the last 
moment was also his reason for giving me no in- 
timation that he would need my services during 


THE SLOOP OF WAR, CANSEAU, APPEARS. 65 

the night. But he called me a little before mid- 
night, and told me that I was to set him off to 
the newly arrived vessel at once. 

I complied with an alacrity that greatly pleased 
him, and when we had arrived at the ship I 
turned to and helped the sailors break out the 
cargo with a heartiness which must have disarmed 
him of any suspicion that I was concerned with a 
little event that soon occurred. 

The boats of the John and Mary had been 
loaded, and the trip across to the King George 
nearly made, when lights flashed out on the deck 
of the latter vessel, showing she was crowded 
with armed men, and some one called out : 

Your little scheme wonT work. Captain 
Coulson. , Come a yard nearer and we Are ; ” 
then there was an ominous clicking of musket 
hammers which told of the readiness of those who 
held them to carry out the threat of their leader. 

It would have been the act of a madman to 
have advanced in the face of those guns, and the 
order was passed along the line of boats to return 
to the vessel from which they had come. 

But when back on the deck of the sloop her 
owner swore a great oath that he would put that 
outfit on board of the King George, if it took 
the whole British squadron to do it ; and early 
5 


66 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the next morning he started on horseback for 
Boston. 

A week later the British sloop of war, Canseau, 
Captain Henry Mowatt, commander, came into 
port ; and shortly it was known the Tory was on 
board, intending, under the protection of the war- 
ship’s guns, to accomplish his sworn purpose. 


CHAPTER V. 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 

On the evening of the same day that the Can- 
seau arrived in the harbor the stage from Bruns- 
wick stopped before the Coulson gate, and Jack 
Mandville, the driver, came around to the kitchen 
door, inquiring for me. 

I was eating my supper, but, hearing his voice, 
left the table and hastened out of doors. 

‘‘Hello, Ben,” he said as he caught sight of 
me ; “ IVe got a letter for ye from your mother,” 
and he fumbled away for a while in one of the 
capacious pockets of his coat. At length finding 
the missive he went on : 

“ Here it is. Rather soiled in the outside, but 
all right within. Sort of like some folks, hey ? 
Well, I have only to say your ma’s having a 
whole peck of trouble, and will expect ye to come 
home along with me to-morrow. So be down at 
the tavern by nine, sharp, in the morning. Good 
night ! ” and the rough but honest-hearted fellow 
went back to his horses. 

67 


CB 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Wondering what Jack could mean by declaring 
my mother was in great trouble, I hurriedly 
opened her note, for it was scarcely more. I have 
not preserved it, but I remember there were two 
brief paragraphs. The first announced the death 
of my baby sister, the hour of the funeral, and a 
request for me to return home in time for it. 
The second contained three sentences which I can 
recall word for word at this late day : ‘‘ Though 

you have been at Captain Coulson’s for a year he 
has not sent me a shilling of your wages. I am 
now in sore need of the money to defray the ex- 
penses of my baby’s illness and burial. Will you, 
therefore, show these lines to your employer, and 
ask him to send me by you the full amount due 
for your services.” 

It may seem strange that I have recollected 
those sentences so accurately for so many years, 
but before the reader has finished this story he 
will see that there were ample reasons why they 
should have been fastened indelibly upon my 
memory. 

For a minute or two I stood there, gazing at 
the letter, and trying to decide how to carry out 
its two requests. The Captain was on board the 
British sloop, and whether it would be better ^o 
go off there and settle matters with him, or to 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 69 

find Miss Dora and secure leave of absence and 
the money from her, I could not tell. I dreaded 
either undertaking. Finally I determined to ask 
Jane’s advice. But when I had explained affairs 
to her, she shook her head, saying : 

I’d rather risk it seeing the Captain, Ben ; 
but if you should go off to the ship without con- 
sulting Miss Dora first, there’ll be trouble for you. 
So I guess you’ll have to see them both.” 

wonder if Mistress Coulson couldn’t ar- 
range it ? ” I whispered ; for it had occurred to 
me that I could not be in greater straits, and 
possibly she might know of some way to help me. 

shall tell her,” Jane answered, speaking as 
guardedly as myself; ‘‘but that cannot prevent 
you from seeing Miss Dora and the Captain. 
Should you ignore them for Mistress Coulson, 
who is not expected to manage the household 
affairs, the question would naturally arise why 
you did so, and might lead to unpleasant disclos- 
ures. No, you will have to go and see them, much 
as you dread it, and leave the mistress to help you 
in some secret way.” 

Eeluctantly I admitted she was right, and sent 
in word by her to Miss Dora, requesting an 
interview. She met me in the great hall, asking 
not unkindly : 


70 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


What is it now, Ben ? ” 

Handing her the note I was carrying I said 
simply : 

‘‘I have just received this letter from my 
mother, Miss Dora.’’ 

Instantly her whole attitude changed. With 
a dark frown she took the missive, and read its 
brief contents with heightening color. When she 
had finished, she threw it from her as though it 
were some obnoxious insect or poisonous reptile. 

‘‘The impertinent hussy!” she exclaimed. 
“ Does she suppose we can spare you two or three 
days because one of her brats happens to be dead ? 
She ought to be thankful for it, since it is one less 
mouth for her to feed ! Then the idea of her 
demanding money of my brother ! She’ll find he 
will pay her when he gets ready, and not a minute 
before ! ” 

Picking up the offensive missive, I said in de- 
cisive tones, for I resented the way in which she 
had spoken of my own fiesh and blood : 

“ Whatever you may think. Miss Dora, I loved 
my little sister ; and my mother’s request is more 
to me than anything else. Will you grant me 
the leave of absence and pay me the money, or 
shall I go off to the sloop of war and see the Cap- 
tain about it ? ” 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 7l 

‘‘ Why should you ? ” she screamed in anger. 
‘‘ Haven’t I told you we can’t spare you ? ” 

I shall go to Brunswick,” I declared with all 
the firmness I could muster, I have to walk 
every step of the way, and never come back here 
again.” 

Whether my last words brought to her mind 
the fact that her brother had no legal right to 
prevent me from going home, or some new scheme 
had entered her brain, I do not know. But reach- 
ing out her hand she remarked with an effort to 
speak pleasantly : 

‘‘ Give me the note, Benjamin, and I will in- 
close it with one I have already written to Samuel. 
You shall take both off to the war-ship for him. 
That will be much the best way to settle this 
unfortunate matter,” and she gave a little forced 
laugh. 

Glad to end the disagreeable interview in what 
seemed to me then to be a satisfactory way, I 
passed the letter to her for the second time, and 
taking it she went into the library. Perhaps she 
was gone ten minutes, and then returned bring- 
ing with her a small sealed parcel, certainly large 
enough to contain my note and a dozen more of 
greater size. Handing this to me she said more 
graciously than I had expected : 


72 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘ Here it is, Benjamin. Put it into your inside 
pocket where you cannot lose it, and, however late 
it may be when you return, be sure to bring my 
brother’s reply to my room at once. I shall be up 
awaiting your coming.” 

Certainly,” I replied, for the first time hav- 
ing a suspicion that she was playing some deep 
game with me. But I managed to conceal my 
suspicion, and with a cheery, “Good evening. 
Miss Dora,” started on my errand. 

When at the boathouse, however, I looked up an 
old lantern which I knew was stowed away there, 
and, lighting its bit of candle from a slight blaze 
I started with my pocket flint and steel, I examined 
the package I was carrying. The next instant 
I gave a low exclamation of delight. The wax had 
scarcely stuck to the upper fold of the wrapper, 
and I was able to detach it without defacing 
it in the least. This placed the contents of the 
parcel at my disposal, and I soon had the papers 
in my hand giving them the closest scrutiny. 

I found there were only two letters — the one 
Miss Dora had written the Captain, and the one I 
had received from my mother; but the former 
was a very long one. At first I had some scruples 
about reading this epistle, but when my eye fell 
upon the name of General Preble near the bottom 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 


of the first page I dismissed every misgiving, and 
read the lengthy manuscript through to the end. 
It was a detailed account of the doings of the 
patriots during the absence of the Captain, and of 
the rumors which had arisen about their possible 
proceedings now that the Canseau had arrived, 
closing with a hitter and vindictive denunciation 
of certain town leaders and an expressed wish 
that they might especially be made to suffer now 
that the means of punishment were at hand. 

Fixing the chief items of the letter in my mind, 
so that I could repeat them to the Committee of 
Safety, I laid it back in the wrapper, and glanced 
at my mother’s note. On the face of it nothing 
additional had been written, and puzzled by this 
fact I turned it over to find on its back several 
lines in a language I could not understand. 
Chagrined by this I sat there a moment thinking 
about what I had better do. It ended in my mak- 
ing an exact copy of the unintelligible words on 
an old piece of paper I found in the building ; 
then I inclosed the missive with its more lengthy 
companion, and, by warming the unbroken seal 
over the candle of my lantern, stuck the wrapper 
down securely. 

An examination of my work convinced me no 
one would suspect the parcel had been opened, 


74 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


and putting it in my pocket, I blew out my light, 
launched the yawl, and started down the harbor 
towards the sloop of war. 

Before I was within gunshot of it I was hailed 
by the bow watchman, and resting on my oars I 
called out : 

Sloop ahoy ! I am Ben Mathews, the lad who 
works for Captain Coulson, and have a message 
for him. May I come alongside ? ’’ 

My request was evidently heard by the officer 
of the deck, for the next minute he appeared at 
the larboard rail, saying : 

‘‘ Come nearer, so I can get a better look at 
you.” 

Kesuming my blades I pulled down within fifty 
feet of the vessel, where the subaltern could see 
that I was alone, for the night was not very dark. 

‘‘All right,” he announced, and giving the 
nearest sailor an order to throw me a rope. 

I was soon near enough to catch the line, and 
first securing my boat so she could not drift away, 
I clambered on board. 

The moment I was on deck I said to the lieuten- 
ant : “ Please give this to Captain Coulson,” and 
I held out towards him the package I had brought. 

He took it, read its address in the light of the 
lantern on the mast, and replied courteously ; 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 75 

I will do SO immediately. Will you await a 
reply ? ” 

One is expected,” I responded, and he went 
aft to the cabin. 

Eeturning a moment later he announced that 
Captain Coulson would see me presently ; then he 
left me to be entertained by the members of the 
night watch. They had already crowded about 
me, some chaffing me good-naturedly, others ask- 
ing about the town from which I had just come, 
and still others boasting of what their cannon 
would do when once they were turned upon the 
village. 

In the midst of this desultory conversation, I, 
without appearing to be inquisitive, managed to 
glean some facts I thought would prove service- 
able to our Safety Committee : The Canseau car- 
ried eighteen guns, and had a complement of one 
hundred and thirty-four men. Her commander. 
Captain Mowatt, was a Scotchman, and disposed 
to parley with the citizens of Falmouth rather than 
come to an open rupture ; while Captain Coulson, 
angry and revengeful, was urging summary 
measures with the town leaders, a course with 
which the under officers and crew of the sloop 
seemed to be in the fullest sympathy. 

When a half hour had been spent in this way I 


76 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


was called aft, and sent down into the cabin. I 
found the two captains seated at a small table on 
which the documents I had brought were lying, 
and it was evident that they had been looking 
the papers over together. As I entered Captain 
Coulson whirled around abruptly, and began ask- 
ing me about the family, the woik at the house, 
and certain of the town matters to which Miss 
Dora had alluded in her letter. I answered hint 
truthfully about the home matters, and pled ig- 
norance of all village affairs because of my strict 
attention to my regular tasks. He seemed satis- 
fied with my replies, and continued, certainly 
more kindly than he had spoken to me for a year, 
a circumstance which filled me with great sur- 
prise : 

‘^So the little one is dead, and your mother 
wishes you to come home bringing your year’s 
pay ? Well, you may go, and I will meet you at 
the stage in the morning with the money. Take 
this letter to my sister,” and he handed me a 
small missive carefully sealed. 

With a bow to both officers I ascended to the 
deck, and in five minutes more was in mj yawl 
pulling towards the shore. At the boathouse I 
examined the package that had been given me by 
the light of the lantern I had used before, but it 


IN WHICH I START FOR BRUNSWICK. 

was SO securely fastened, I dared not tamper with 
it, and so putting it into my pocket hastened up 
the street to the house. 

It was still early when I arrived there, and 
finding Miss Dora in the library, I delivered the 
Captain’s letter to her. Then I went to my 
room, and getting immediately into bed was soon 
fast asleep. 

It must have been midnight when I was awak- 
ened by Mistress Coulson. Smiling a little at my 
bewildered look on first seeing her, she remarked : 

‘‘You are going to Brunswick in the morning, 
Ben, and I wish to send a message to my brother. 
Colonel Thompson. Here it is, and be sure that 
it falls into no one else’s hands.” 

“Certainly, Mistress Coulson,” I replied, tak- 
ing the small parcel, and putting it under my 
pillow. Then in low tones I told her of Miss 
Dora’s communication to the Captain, and of the 
facts I had learned about the Canseau and her 
crew, asking if there would be any way to send 
the information to the Committee before I re- 
turned. 

“ I think I can arrange it this time,” she said. 
“I will write down the items, and Jane can find 
some way to slip the note into the hand of your 
boy friend, Enoch Freeman, who will give it to 


78 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


his father. Good-night and good-by,” and then 
she left me. 

I was at the stage ten minutes before the hour 
for its departure, hut Captain Coulson had not 
yet arrived. Fearful that he would fail me I 
anxiously waited, but at the last moment he ap- 
peared, paying for my passage, and giving me a 
package addressed to my mother, which I knew 
by its weight and feeling must contain some 
money. He moreover wished me a pleasant trip 
and a safe return, with a courtesy which at- 
tracted the attention of every one of my fellow 
passengers, for of these there were several, and 
delighted with this show of kindness, and elated 
over the fact that I was carrying a whole year’s 
pay to my sorrowing mother, I mounted the 
driver’s box beside Jack Mandville, and so began 
a journey which was destined to include experi- 
ences I little dreamed of. 


CHAPTEE VI. 


IN WHICH COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 

I HAVE sometimes wondered whether any jour- 
ney of a score and ten miles ever had more mis- 
haps than befell us that day. Before we reached 
Yarmouth the stage got into a slough of mud 
from which the horses could not extricate it. 
The passengers alighted ; the luggage was re- 
moved ; and then Jack Mandville and I worked 
for more than an hour with stout poles, cut from 
the adjacent woods, to raise the wheels out of the 
deep hole into which they had sunk below their 
hubs. Our efforts were, however, finally crowned 
with success, and taking on our load again, the 
journey was resumed. 

A half dozen miles beyond Yarmouth, while 
pulling through a rough piece of the road, one of 
the forward wheels of the vehicle struck an em- 
bedded stump with a force that snapped the 
tongue short off at the whiffle-trees, and doing a 
damage it would take a skillful wright to fix. 

79 


80 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


At this new misfortune J ack lost his temper, 
and swore at his horses in a way that frightened 
the women in the coach, and led a tall dignified 
man among the passengers, whom we all had 
taken for a preacher, to minister a deserved re- 
buke. 

“ I’m sorry, elder,” Jack said meekly under the 
remonstrance, ‘‘but it will take a half hour to 
tie up that stick so we can pull along to the next 
tavern ; and then we are in for a good two hours 
more before a new tongue can be fitted. I’ve had 
more mishaps to-day than I’ve had before in a 
year, and I confess I lost myself just a bit, I hope 
you’ll excuse me, sir.” 

He now set himself to the task of temporarily 
repairing the break, and with my help succeeded 
so well we were, before long, again on our way ; 
but at Wing’s tavern we were delayed more than 
the time specified for the wright, who had with 
much difficulty been found, to fasten in the 
new tongue. 

Because of these delays it was dark when we 
reached the Harpswell inn and stopped for sup- 
per. I was not going in for the meal, as I had no 
money of my own to pay for it ; but Jack Mand- 
ville looked me up, saying : 

“ Come along, Ben ; you have helped me enough 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. gl 

to-day for one square feed ; and I mean you shall 
have it.’’ 

So I followed him to the table, where he was as 
good as his word, and saw that I had all the food 
that I coiild comfortably stow away. 

When I came out of the house I beheld the 
preacher standing by the stage, and, as I 
thought, fumbling with its wheels, though it was 
too dark to see clearly. But when I came up 
with him I found he was pulling out his bag- 
gage. 

‘‘ I am going to stop here for the night, instead 
of going on to Brunswick,” he explained, and lug- 
gage in hand went hack towards the building. 

I gave the affair no attention, as it did not con- 
cern me, and, mounting the box waited for the 
coach to start. 

In ten minutes we were off, but had not made 
a quarter of a mile before one of the hind wheels 
suddenly slipped from the axle, and down went 
that side of the stage with a bump that mixed up 
the passengers terribly. 

As the forward wheels remained firm. Jack and 
I were not thrown from the box ; but, dismount- 
ing the moment the startled horses were brought 
to a stop, we hastened to the help of the passen- 
gers. It took but a moment to ascertain no one 


82 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


had been seriously injured, and then we gave our 
attention to the disabled coach. 

I was some time finding the lost wheel on ac- 
count of the darkness, but at length came back 
with it in my hand, announcing : 

‘‘I have it. Jack, and it isn’t broken. What 
made it come off ? ” 

‘‘The pin is gone,” he growled, “ and that isn’t 
the worst of it. The axle has split in the fall, and 
we shall have to go back to the tavern for the 
night. Did you ever see such luck ? ” 

I was forced to confess I never did ; then, at his 
request, I went back to the inn to secure help. 

A half dozen men returned with me, who lifted 
the stage out of the road, and loaded themselves 
with the luggage to take it up to the hostelry. 
Finding I was not needed, I said to Jack : 

“ I’m going on home. My mother will expect 
me to-night, and I’d rather walk the few miles 
that remain than disappoint her.” 

“I don’t blame ye,” he replied. “I’d do the 
same if I was in your place. But for my blasted 
luck you wouldn’t have to do it ; and here’s your 
four shillings for passage money. I didn’t deliver 
ye to your destination and ye are entitled to it.” 

I objected, but the honest fellow would not 
listen. 


COLONEL THOMPSOftT MAKES A CAPTURE. 83 

“ I’ve got work enough out of ye, to pay for 
every mile yeVe rid,” he declared. ‘‘Take the 
coins, and go ’long.” 

With the silver still in my hand I started down 
the road. Then why I did it I cannot tell, but 
instead of putting the pieces into my pocket, I 
took off my hat, and slipped them under its lin- 
ing. That reminded me of the two letters I was 
carrying, and, regarding them as ever more valu- 
able than the shillings I had concealed, I put them 
into the same secure hiding-place, restoring the 
covering to my head. I know also that I deter- 
mined, in case I was assailed, to throw my hat 
from me, trusting to the chance of finding it 
again, rather than to allow it to fall into the 
hands of my assailants. 

It must have been a special providence guiding 
me in that resolve, for before I was out of the long 
woods into which I soon entered, two men leaped 
from the surrounding bushes, and rushed down 
upon me. Quick as they were, however, I was 
quicker, and before they seized me, I had tossed 
my hat into a thicket on the opposite side of the 
road from which they came. They did not notice 
my act, but, having captured me, plunged into 
the forest, dragging me after them. 

I did not cry out for two reasons : I knew it 


84 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


was more than a mile to the nearest house, and if 
I screamed there was not one chance in a thousand 
I should be heard by any one ; then, notwithstand- 
ing the darkness, I had already recognized one of 
my captors as the tall preacher who came down in 
the stage as far as the Harpswell inn, and a curi- 
osity to know what he could want of me, led me 
to keep silent. 

Through the woods for a half mile the men took 
me to a wood-chopper’s shanty. Here my stage 
acquaintance held me, while his companion 
started a blaze in the rude fireplace. When its 
flickering light was strong enough to reveal the 
face of my tall captor I remarked with all the 
sarcasm I could muster : 

This is nice work for a parson ! ” 

‘ ^ Sometimes people are not what they are sup- 
posed to be,” he retorted dryly. 

‘‘ What are you going to do with me ?” I ven- 
tured to ask a moment later. 

‘‘We will soon show you,” was the response. 

As he spoke the other fellow came to his aid, 
and they proceeded to search me. Pockets, lin- 
ings, underclothing, shoes, were all subjected to 
the severest scrutiny. Then the man who had 
started the fire exclaimed : 

“ He hasn’t a single paper about him ! ” 



“What are you going to do with me? ” I asked. “ We will 
soon show you/’ was the response as the fellow proceeded to 
search me. Page 84. A Tory' s Revenge 








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COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 85 

the make-believe preacher answered 
with an oath as fearful as any he had rebuked 
Jack Mandville for only a few hours before ; ‘‘yet 
I was told we should at least find a letter on him 
directed to his mother. 

“ And we were to have the money in it,” chimed 
in his comrade. “ What can the youngster have 
done with it ? ” 

“I am more anxious to know whether he carried 
any other missive,” commented the other ; “ one 
directed to Colonel Thompson for instance,” and 
he gave me a searching look. 

I confess I was startled by this talk of the men. 
It showed that they had been sent down the road 
on purpose to intercept me ; and that I was sus- 
pected of having the message Mistress Coulson 
had given me for her brother. But I tried not to 
let my alarm show itself in any way ; instead I 
answered with all the carelessness I could as- 
sume : 

“The letter for my mother was in my hat. 
What did you do with that ? ” 

“ Jerushy,” ejaculated my short captor, “we 
must have knocked it off when we grabbed him 
down there in the road.” 

“ Go back and find it,” commanded his comrade 
sharply ; and with evident reluctance he obeyed. 


86 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Meanwhile the false parson and I sat there in 
silence ; he apparently impatient and anxious, 
though I do not know his thoughts ; I complacent 
and jubilant, for I was confident the hat would 
not be found. Nearly an hour went by before 
the short man returned, crestfallen and dis- 
couraged. 

‘‘I couldn’t find it in the road, or between 
here and there,” he announced. ‘‘It is like 
looking for a needle in a hay-stack in this dark- 
ness.” 

“Then we will wait until it is light and hunt 
for it,” the tall man said decisively ; “ for mark 
you, Zeke Winslow, that hat must be found. It 
was lost purposely ; ” and he gave me a savage 
look. 

I laughed. 

“ Something like your taking out the wheel pin 
of the stage, and fixing the coach tongue so it 
would break, wasn’t it, parson ? ” 

He smiled a little. 

“You are shrewd,” he said ; “ but you must 
admit I did my work well.” 

“And you will find I have done mine equally 
well,” I thought, but was wise enough not to 
say it. 

“You did,” I admitted aloud. “But if I am 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 87 

to be kept here all night, why can’t I go to 
sleep ? ” 

Turn in any time,” he answered curtly. 

As there was nothing to turn into but the rude 
slab bunks at the other side of the hut, I walked 
over there and lay down. A few minutes later I 
fell asleep, and slept for some hours. When I 
awoke the fire was out, and the cabin was so dark 
I could not see across it. I listened, but heard 
no sound. I sat up, thinking my movement would 
arouse my guards, but no one stirred. I arose to 
my feet, and felt my way slowly and silentlj^ along 
to the one window of the building, and then on to 
the door. Both were closed, and fastened securely 
on the outside. I was alone. My captors had de- 
parted, leaving me shut up like a squirrel in a box 
trap. 

The simile was in my mind, and I said aloud : 

I have known them to gnaw out ; it may be 
I can find a way out of this.” 

I spent what seemed to me a long time in ex- 
amining the cabin for its weakest point ; the first 
glimmerings of the coming day were discernible 
through the chinks between the logs before I de- 
cided on my place of attack. This was the chim- 
ney, built wholly outside of the hut, and of stones 
loosely embedded in clay. I was sure that in time 


88 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


I could make an opening there large enough for 
an exit ; hut could I do it before my captors re- 
turned ? 

I set to work, using a stick of wood for a bar, 
and after much effort dislodged the first stone. 
The opening once started, the task became less 
difficult, and before the sun had risen I was 
free. 

Cautiously I crept through the forest, keeping a 
sharp lookout for the returning men. Just before 
I reached the roadway I heard their voices, and 
hid in the nearest thicket. 

As soon as they were near enough for me to 
distinguish their words I knew their search had 
been unsuccessful. 

‘‘ Our only hope now,’’ the tall man was say- 
ing, ‘‘is to make the youngster tell where he 
concealed it. I believe you are more than half 
right when you say he suspected me from the 
first, and was prepared for this capture. But he 
is still in our power, and we’ll have his hat or his 
hide. Before we get through with him, he’ll be 
glad to disclose all he knows, or my name is not 
Joseph Domette.” 

They passed on in the direction of the cabin, 
and I looked after them saying to myself : 

“ So you are Joseph Domette, are you ? Well, 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 89 

I have heard of you, you miserable old Tory, and 
am thankful I have escaped your clutches.” 

When they were out of sight I left my place of 
concealment, and hastened on to the road. Mak- 
ing sure I was below the spot where I had been 
captured, I entered the bushes on the lower side 
of the path, and walked slowly along, carefully 
examining every thicket. At length I was re- 
warded, and found my hat lodged in a clump of 
small firs. Its contents were intact, and, with an 
exultation which I am sure was pardonable under 
the circumstances, I hurried along under cover of 
the woods until opposite the next dwelling. Here 
I again took to the road, and proceeded without 
molestation to the house where my mother was 
residing. 

The funeral of my sister had been arranged 
for the afternoon, so there was ample time for me 
to visit Colonel Thompson before it took place. 
But fearing my movements might be watched, I 
decided to send his sister’s missive to him, and did 
so by the hand of a trusty friend. 

Captain Coulson’s letter to mother, however, 
was opened the moment I had told her of my 
capture. There were ten crowns in it, wrapped in 
several folds of paper, but nothing else. Not a 
line, not an address, not a word was written there. 


90 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


How is this?” my mother inquired, greatly 
perplexed. “ This is not half what Captain Coul- 
son should pay me for your services ; and yet there 
is no word of explanation.” 

He did not intend for you to have even that 
amount!” I cried. ‘‘Those men who captured 
me were his agents, and that was the pay for their 
work. Then he would have claimed that he had 
inclosed the full amount due you, and that the 
loss was not his but ours.” 

“Can it be he is so mean as that ? ” she queried 
incredulously. 

“You would not ask it, if you knew him as 
Ido,” I went on hotly. “I would not return 
there again, but for ” 

I stopped. I was not sure I ought to tell even 
my mother the compact I had made with Mis- 
tress Coulson. But busy with her own thoughts 
she did not notice my hesitation. 

“ I must have the full pay for your year’s work, 
and a distinct arrangement for your future com- 
pensation before you go back there,” she said 
with a decisiveness I had never before seen her 
display ; and then the subject was dropped for 
matters which claimed our more immediate 
attention. 

To the surprise of us all Colonel Thompson 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 91 

attended the funeral of the babe that afternoon, 
and returned to the house with the mourners. 
Courteously addressing a few words of sympathy 
to my bereaved mother, he asked to see me alone. 

I had to take him up to the spare chamber, but 
when we were by ourselves he held out his hands 
towards me saying : 

‘‘I have learned of the good work you have 
been doing for the cause, Benjamin, and am told 
you can acquaint me with the exact situation of 
affairs in Falmouth at this time.” 

I informed him of the coming of the Canseau, 
and the threat of Captain Coulson. 

We’ll see about it ; we’ll see about it,” he re- 
marked rubbing his chin thoughtfully. I have 
fifty men, every one trained for service, and I 
shall take them over to the town to-night. Pos- 
sibly those doughty captains will not carry things 
with so high a hand when I get there. Can you 
go back with me ? I may want to use you.” 

hardly know what my mother will say 
about it,” I answered ; and then I told him of my 
capture, and Captain Coulson’s peculiar dealings. 

“There was more to that than the getting of 
your money,” he declared when I had finished. 
“ Some one wanted to find out if you were bring- 
ing a message to me. Can you recall any cir- 


92 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


cumstance that would lead you to suspect who 
it is ? ” 

Instantly there flashed into my mind the 
strange words Miss Dora had written on the 
back of the note I had received from my mother. 
The copy I had made of them was in Falmouth, 
but I was sure I could recall them, and ex- 
claimed : 

‘^Wait a moment, sir; I have something to 
show you,” then I hurried from the room, 

Eeturning a moment later with ink, paper and 
quill, I laboriously tried to reproduce that queer 
message. When I had done, I pushed the lines 
towards the Colonel, asking : 

‘‘Can you read that, sir ?” 

He studied the scrawl for some time, then he 
answered with a smile : 

“ I don’t think you have got it quite right, but 
it is near enough for me to guess at the mean- 
ing. It is French. Who wrote the words and 
when ? ” 

Quickly I explained. 

“Allis clear,” he responded. “This is what 
Miss Coulson wrote her brother : ‘ Let the boy go ; 
and give him the money — apparently for his 
mother, but really to pay Joseph and Ezekiel. I 
will arrange for them to stop the lad. It will be 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 93 

a good chance for us to learn whether Mary is in 
secret communication with her brother.’” 

“ I ought to have known by their sudden kind- 
ness they were up to some such trick as that,” I 
exclaimed with chagrin. ‘‘ It is only when they 
want to make a cat’s-paw of me that they treat 
me decently. I shall learn after awhile when to 
be on the lookout for them.” 

“It seems to me you have won the game,” 
the officer was good enough to say. “Their 
agents cannot make a very flattering report. 
They found no letter for me, and do not know 
certainly that you had one. Then they did not 
even get the money intended for them, and your 
mother is in ten crowns, for I have an order from 
my sister to pay her flve pounds for your year’s 
service. Here it is,” and he proceeded to c unt 
out the money. 

“ Give it to your mother,” he directed when the 
gold was in my hand, “and tell her to make no 
further demand upon the Captain for your pay, 
as though she meekly accepted the sum he seems 
to have sent her. Tell her also that my sister 
will see that you are justly paid for your 
services however the Captain may treat you. 
Then she can have no good reason for refusing to 
allow you to return, and you can accompany me 


94 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


and my men back to Falmouth to-night. We 
shall go by boat, and landing on the neck before 
daylight, shall hide in close proximity to the 
village until able to accomplish our purpose.” 

He hesitated a moment, and then bending 
towards me went on in a whisper : 

“ I will tell you what that is, for my sister as- 
sures me I can rely upon you for help. It is to 
capture Captain Mowatt the first time he comes 
on shore, and put him in a place where he will 
have to yield to our demands, not we to his.” 

I was dazed for a few moments at the very 
boldness of this undertaking ; but the more I 
thought it over the surer I was it could be done ; 
so I replied : 

am at your service, sir.” 

‘‘Thanks,” he responded ; and then having told 
me where to meet him that evening he departed. 

I gave the five pounds to my mother, and in- 
formed her of Mistress Coulson’s pledge. As this 
removed the principal objection she had against 
my return, I had no difficulty in securing her 
consent to accompany Colonel Thompson and his 
men to Falmouth, though I in no way disclosed 
their purpose in going. 

Promptly at the appointed hour we embarked 
in the boats which had been provided, and under a 


COLONEL THOMPSON MAKES A CAPTURE. 95 

stiff breeze ran down the river to the ocean, and 
along the shore to Falmouth neck. It was not yet 
morning when we landed, and, marching stealth- 
ily up to Mun joy’s Hill, concealed ourselves in the 
pine woods that covered its top. 

After a few hours of sleep, we were called to 
rations, and then Colonel Thompson sent me into 
the town to keep watch over every movement of 
the British, and report it to him either in person, 
or through some of my boy friends who could be 
trusted. 

It was about noon when I started for the vil- 
lage, but at the edge of the forest I whirled 
around and went back to the Colonel’s quarters 
in great excitement. 

‘‘Captain Mowatt is now on shore,” I reported, 
“and taking a walk up this way.” 

“Is he alone ?” Colonel Thompson demanded, 
springing to his feet. 

“No, sir,” I answered; “another officer and 
Master Wiswall, the Episcopal minister, are with 
him.” 

Calling a subaltern the Colonel ordered him to 
take a dozen men and follow him. 

Under my guidance the squad went to a place 
in the woods near which the British Captain and 
his friends must pass if they ascended the hill ; 


96 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


and we had not been there ten minutes before 
they appeared. 

Waiting until they were abreast of him Colo- 
nel Thompson, followed by his men, strode out 
of the trees, and confronted the astonished red- 
coats, saying : 

Halt, gentlemen ! You are my prisoners ! ” 


CHAPTER VII. 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 

At the command of Colonel Thompson I re- 
mained under the trees, for he was afraid the 
British officer might recognize me as the lad 
who was in the employ of Captain Coulson, a dis- 
covery which would, as readily can he seen, limit 
my usefulness in the service of the patriots. But 
I had taken a position where I could both see and 
hear all that was going on, and so am able to give 
a truthful account of an event about which there 
has been so much dispute. 

At the challenge of the Colonel, given precisely 
as I have recorded it. Captain Mowatt whipped 
out his sword, and with a frightful oath, which I 
will not put on these pages, demanded : ‘‘Who 
are you ? By what right do you ask this ? ” 

“By the right of fifty just such fellows as 
those,” responded Colonel Thompson, pointing to- 
wards his men, who had already brought their 
muskets to bear upon the Britisher and his com- 
panions. “ Every one is a dead shot, and can 
7 97 


98 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


put a bullet in you before you run a dozen paces. 
It is therefore a mere matter of good sense to 
yield to the inevitable, Captain.” 

The redcoat glanced at the gleaming muskets, 
and came promptly to the same conclusion. 
Sheathing his sword, he said sullenly : 

‘‘I surrender ; but you, whoever you are, shall 
pay dearly for this outrage.” 

At this second allusion to his identity the 
patriot officer remarked pleasantly : 

‘‘ I am Colonel Samuel Thompson, of Bruns- 
wick, and at your service. Give me the pledge 
that you and your surgeon will make no attempt 
to escape, and I will neither bind nor disarm you. 
In fact I will make your sojourn with us as en- 
joyable as possible.” 

The surgeon, who was short and jolly, and dis- 
posed to take the capture as a huge joke, here 
laughed outright. 

Bless you. Colonel,” he said between his 
ripples of laughter, I never fight. I take care 
of those who are foolish enough to do the fighting. 
When you have a job in my line, call on. Mean- 
while you’ll find me as peaceable as a lamb.” 

The Colonel bowed, and turned to Captain 
Mowatt, who with much show of reluctance 
finally gave the desired promise. Then Colonel 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 99 

Thompson for the first time gave his attention to 
Master Wiswall ; and there was no profanity or 
severity, nor discourtesy in what he said. I am 
sure that I give here his precise words : 

‘‘And you, sir, may resume your walk ; hut let 
it be towards the village, I trust, too, when I 
meet you again, I shall find you in better com- 
pany. It throws a shadow of ill-repute over any 
colonist to be in these times over-friendly with 
any Britisher, But out of respect for your call- 
ing, you are allowed to go,” and he waved him 
away. 

Directing his men to proceed to the camp with 
the prisoners, he himself now returned to the 
place where I was concealed in the pines. 

“ I will make a little change in the orders given 
you at an earlier hour to-day, Ben,” he said as he 
approached me. “They will not expect you at 
Coulson’s before nightfall, and you can, therefore, 
devote the afternoon wholly to my service. First 
acquaint the Town Committee with the arrest I 
have made, assuring them of two things : that 
it was not my intention to have taken so im- 
portant a step without consulting them, but the 
opportunity could not be allowed to pass ; and 
that I am ready to hold an interview with them 
any time they care to arrange for it. Then you 


LcfC. 


100 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


can saunter about town keeping watch of all 
movements, and reporting to me whatever in 
your judgment I ought to know. Of course as 
soon as the capture of the Britisher is known 
there is going to be a hubbub both on the sloop 
and on shore.” 

Following out these directions I made my way 
down the hill, and through a back lane to King 
Street on which Colonel Freeman lived. I had 
an object in this. I knew that in the re-organi- 
zation of the Committee, General Preble had 
been made its chairman, and that it was therefore 
to him I should properly carry my message. But 
he lived much farther down town, near the wharf 
bearing his name, and, fearing my employer might 
have come ashore with Captain Mo watt, I did not 
care to run any risk in that part of the village, 
where I should be most likely to meet him ; so 
I decided to call on the Colonel rather than the 
General. 

It is true the former lived much nearer the 
Tory, but the Freeman homestead was above the 
Coulson residence, and I could reach it by a way 
which would keep me out of the sight of our 
house ; while there was little danger of running 
in with the Captain above his own dwelling. 

My calculations in this respect were not amiss, 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. IQl 

for I reached the Freeman yard without attract- 
ing the attention of any one who would regard 
my presence on the street at that hour as strange. 
Jumping over the fence in the rear of the dwell- 
ing I was pleased to see Enoch at work a few rods 
away. So busy was he I walked over where he 
was, and spoke to him before he knew I was there. 

‘‘Hello, Enoch,” I said. 

“ Why, hello, Ben,” he answered with a start. 
“ I didn’t hear you ! Have you just come ? ” 

“ Into the village ? Yes,” I answered evasively. 
Then I inquired : “Is your father at home ? ” 

“ No,” he responded, “not now ; but he ought 
to be here in a few minutes, for he and General 
Preble were to meet Captain Mowatt at one 
o’clock for a conference.” 

I gave a low whistle. 

“What’s the matter?” he asked, gazing curi- 
ously at me. 

‘ ‘ I was surprised, ” I replied truthfully. ‘ ‘ How 
does it come about that the Britisher is willing to 
confer with our Committee ? ” 

“ Oh ! things have been slowly leading around 
to this ever since you went away,” he explained. 
“First a delegation was sent off to the sloop; 
then a delegation visited the shore ; but nothing 
has been accomplished. The Canseau is right 


102 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


where she first anchored on coming into the 
harbor ; the goods are still on board the John and 
Mary ; and the King George is off the shipyard. 
Of course our leaders take but one view of the 
matter : the goods must be returned to England 
as they came or there will be trouble, and Captain 
Mowatt has seemed to respect their opinion ; but 
he was to give his final answer to-day. 

‘‘I saw him come ashore two or three hours 
ago along with his surgeon, and they went to call 
on Master Wiswall. He is as thick with the Brit- 
ishers as peas are in a pod. Then the rector and 
the redcoats went off for a walk, but I presume 
they will be back in time for the Captain to keep 
his appointment.” 

A click of the front gate turned the line of his 
talk. ‘‘ There ! I bet that is father and General 
Preble now. They would get here first. Let us 
go and see,” and he led the way around the house. 

When we reached the front of the dwelling I 
found Enoch was right. The new-comers were 
the Colonel and the General, and the merest glance 
showed that they were under a great excitement. 
They saw us, however, as soon as we did them, 
and General Preble, stopping suddenly on the steps, 
exclaimed : 

‘‘Here is Ben; perhaps he can give us some 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 103 

light on this new rumor ! ” Then turning to me 
he inquired : Ben, do you know anything about 
the arrest of Captain Mo watt ? ” 

‘‘I know all about it, sir,” I answered promptly. 

^‘It is true then?” 

Yes, sir ; and Colonel Thompson has sent me 
to you with a message.” 

The two men looked at each other, and it was 
not hard to see that they were greatly annoyed 
by this confirmation of the tidings which were 
already current on the street. But in a moment 
the Colonel said a little stiffly : 

<< Very well ; sir ; come in, and we will hear it.” 

He led us into a little ofl&ce on the west side of 
the hall, and closed the door. Placing a chair for 
the General, he took one himself, leaving me still 
standing ; then he remarked curtly : 

‘‘We are ready.” 

“Shall I tell you merely the message Colonel 
Thompson sent?” I asked; “or will you hear 
my whole story since I left here ? Some strange 
experiences have befallen me, but I have, as you 
know, no secrets from you.” 

That utterance was a master stroke on my part. 
Before it the stiffness and coolness of the two 
patriots vanished as the fog flees before the rays 
of the sun. 


104 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘ We will hear the entire tale, Ben ; and doubt 
not it will explain some things which we now find 
it hard to comprehend,” responded the Colonel with 
his old cordiality ; while General Preble hastened 
to set out a chair for me, adding : Yes, cer 
tainly ; tell us the whole thing, Ben ; but, pray 
be seated, for probably the story is a long 
one.” 

I took the chair, and then began the recital of 
my experiences from the hour I received my 
mother’s letter calling me to Brunswick. They 
stopped me when I spoke of the package Mistress 
Coulson gave me for her brother and inquired 
more minutely about it ; but finding I knew 
nothing of its contents, allowed me to go on. 

My capture in the woods by the Tories, and 
their desperate efforts to find the missives I was 
carrying interested them greatly, but they were 
amazed to learn that the whole scheme was an 
effort on the part of Captain Coulson and his 
sister to find out whether Mistress Coulson was 
in communication with her brother. 

‘‘It was clearly a special providence that guided 
you in the steps which outwitted your enemies,” 
the General declared reverently. 

The visit of Colonel Thompson to my mother, 
and his private interview with myself apparently 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 105 

furnished my hearers with the information for 
which they were looking. For interrupting me 
the Colonel said to his colleague : 

‘‘It is evident Colonel Thompson made his 
move at the suggestion of his sister.” 

“ What if he did ? ” retorted the General with 
marked acerbity in his tones. “ He should have 
consulted us before he began to carry out any plans 
of his own. As it is he has completely defeated 
our own purpose, and jeopardized the lives and 
property of our citizens. I call it an unpardon- 
able interference of an outsider with our town 
affairs ! ” 

For the first time I understood the real mean- 
ing of Colonel Thompson’s last words tome : “ Of 
course as soon as the capture of the Britisher is 
known there is going to be a hubbub both on the 
sloop and on shore.” At the time I understood 
why there should be “a hubbub” on the sloop, 
but could not understand why there should be on 
shore. To my mind it was an occasion for rejoic- 
ing. But I now saw that the Colonel expected 
his daring deed would arouse the animosity of 
friends as well as foes, and for this reason had 
wished me to assure the town leaders it was not 
originally his intention to capture the Britisher 
without consulting with them. It was only 


106 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the unexpected coming of the commander, and 
the unexceptionally fine opportunity to carry out 
his plan which had led him to proceed without 
their consent. Hoping, therefore, to conciliate 
the men before me, and prevent what looked like 
an open rupture between equally good and true 
patriots, I took no notice of the General’s bitter 
words, but hastened on with my tale. 

They listened in silence until I had finished, 
but by the lighting up of their faces I could see 
they were pleased that the captured redcoats had 
not been disarmed or bound ; that the Colonel 
recognized his act was premature ; and that he 
was anxious to hold a consultation with them. 

‘Ht is not as bad as it might be. General,” 
Colonel Freeman exclaimed, when I was done. 

Thompson has been hasty, but will, I am sure, 
not be unreasonable. We may in our interview 
with him be able to show it will be good policy to 
let his prisoners go.” 

‘‘We’d better not act until we know the mind 
of our entire committee,” General Preble sug- 
gested. 

“I approve of that,” returned the Colonel 
quickly. “ Let us call them together at once.” 

Before they could make a move, however, there 
came a knock at the outer door, and a moment 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 107 

later a servant handed in a sealed package ad- 
dressed to the Town Committee. Opening it 
hastily the General read it aloud. 

On hoard His Majesty^s Sloop of War, The 
Canseau, 

The ^th of May, 1775. 
To the Safety Committee of Falmouth : 

Sirs : — If Captain Mowatt and Surgeon Small 
are not released and allowed to return on board 
by six o’clock to-day, I shall bombard the town, 

Signed, Hogg, 
Lieutenant, 

The two committeemen looked at each other 
for an instant in consternation. Then Master 
Preble said : 

“We must act quickly.” 

Passing the threatening letter over to me he 
continued : 

“ Take that to Colonel Thompson at once, Ben. 
It is well for him to know what a hornet’s nest 
he has stirred up. Tell him also that a delega- 
tion from our committee will call upon him in an 
hour ; ” then he and the Colonel hastened out to 
call together their colleagues, while I retraced 
my steps to the camp on Mun joy’s Hill. 

On arriving there I found Colonel Thompson 


108 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


about to sit down to a late dinner under a rude 
bower his men had erected for his use, and he in- 
vited me to share the meal with him. 

Possibly you will be willing to accept what 
my prisoners have declined,” he said with a pe- 
culiar smile ; and you can make your report 
while we eat.” 

With stumps for seats, and a split log for 
a table, we sat down to a plain and not over 
abundant repast ; and as we did so I handed the 
Colonel the letter of Lieutenant Hogg, for I re- 
garded it as the most important part of my nar- 
rative, saying as I did so : 

The Town Committee, as you will see, has 
received that note from the executive officer of 
the Canseau.” 

To my surprise he tossed it aside, as soon as he 
had read it, with the single comment : Barks 
well, doesn’t he ? ” Then he continued : ‘‘ Tell 
me what the town leaders say ? I am far more 
anxious to know what they think of my act.” 

I was as frank with him as I had been with the 
General and Colonel, and in a few minutes he 
knew the exact state of affairs in the village 
below. 

His brow darkened as I spoke, but more with 
anxiety than anger I thought. 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 109 

So I nipped some plan of theirs in the bud ? ” 
he mused as I ended. ‘‘ They look upon my act 
as an unpardonable interference from an out- 
sider ? They expect me to release the prisoners ? 
It looks as though what I took to be a mere mole 
hill will prove to be a mountain. Still when 
they come to hear my full plan they may modify 
their views. We will hope so for the sake of the 
cause, and the safety of the town.” 

More than an hour had passed when the officer 
of the day announced that General Jedediah 
Preble and Colonel Enoch Freeman were outside 
the picket lines, requesting an audience. Direct- 
ing his men to withdraw beyond earshot of the 
bower. Colonel Thompson sent his orderly to 
conduct the visitors to his headquarters. I 
started to go with the others, but the Colonel 
stopped me. 

No, Ben,” he said, whatever difference there 
may be between me and the town committee, 
they and I know and appreciate your fidelity. 
Go over to yonder log, if you care to,” and he 
pointed towards an overturned pine fifty feet 
away,” hut no farther. I will send my orderly 
to keep you company when he returns, and both 
of you will be in call should I need you,” So it 
happened that Sergeant Thomas Kingsbury and 


110 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


myself were the sole witnesses of that famous 
interview. 

The meeting of the three patriots was dignified 
and courteous, Colonel Thompson waiting, after 
the first greetings for his visitors to speak, and 
General Preble hastening, as the spokesman for 
himself and colleague, to present the matter for 
which they had come. 

‘‘We received your message, sir,” he said some- 
what haughtily ; “ and, after consulting with our 
full committee, are prepared to ask the immediate 
release of your prisoners for three reasons.” 

Here the General took a paper from his pocket, 
and opening it, began to read : 

“First, because you had no right to arrest 
them.” 

Colonel Thompson now raised his hand. 

“ I protest,” he exclaimed in clear, calm tones. 
“Never had a man two more lawful grounds for 
his act than I have for mine to-day.” 

“ Name them,” retorted the General abruptly. 

“ First, because the colonies are already at war 
with England,” the Colonel went on solemnly ; 
“as is attested by the armed forces now gathered 
around Boston ; and secondly, because Captain 
Mo watt sailed into yonder harbor with the avowed 
purpose of helping a minion of the king defy the 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. HI 

laws of this colony — an act which in itself was a 
declaration of war against us.” 

He paused, and only the occasional dropping of 
a pine needle on the roof of the bower broke the 
deathlike silence, for his hearers knew he had 
spoken only the truth. 

At length, however. General Preble went on 
with his reading, but less arrogantly : 

‘‘Secondly, because your act was unnecessary. 
For four days the sloop of war has been in our 
harbor, and has yet committed no overt act. On 
the other hand her commander has listened kindly 
to our protests, and to-day, hut for your uncalled 
for act, would have given us his final answer.” 

Again Colonel Thompson raised his hand. 
“May I ask,” he inquired, “if you know what 
that answer was to be ? ” 

“No,” the General acknowledged; “hut we 
we hoped that it would favor us.” 

“Then let 'me show you,” continued the Colo- 
nel, “that it is impossible for the Britisher to 
grant you any favors. However much he may 
parley with you he must in the end carry out the 
purpose for which he came here.” 

He now drew a package from his coat. “ This,” 
he went on, “is the letter my sister. Mistress 
Coulson, sent me. by yonder lad. It contains an 


112 


A. TORY’S REVENGE. 


exact copy of the orders issued to Captain Mowatt 
by Admiral Graves before he sailed from Boston, 
and, as you will see, permits of but one proce- 
dure. The Captain is to put the outfit and sup- 
plies now in the hold of the John and Mary on 
hoard of the King George, even if he has to de- 
stroy Falmouth to do it,” and he handed the paper 
to his visitors in turn. 

Again there was an oppressive silence, unbroken 
this time until Colonel Thompson remarked 
grimly : 

I believe there was a third reason why your 
committee demanded the release of my prisoners. 
I am ready to hear it.” 

Slowly General Preble raised the manuscript 
he held, and, clearing his voice with some diffi- 
culty, read the remaining article : 

‘‘Thirdly, because your act has already placed 
the lives and property of our citizens in jeopardy. 
In three hours, unless your prisoners are released, 
our town will be in ruins. We urge you, there- 
fore, that, if nothing more, you will parole the 
prisoners until another day. This will at least 
delay the destruction of our village and give us 
time to extricate ourselves from the unhappy di- 
lemma into which your rash act has brought us.” 

“Do you really believe Lieutenant Hogg will 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. I13 

carry out his threat ? ” asked the Colonel incred- 
ulously when the reading was over. 

‘‘We do,’’ replied the General; “and so do 
scores of our townsfolk. Already they are remov- 
ing their goods and families from the neck.” 

“ And do you think for a moment Captain 
Mowatt would keep a parole if I granted it to 
him?” 

“We do,” was the quick response. 

“Would you two gentlemen be willing to be- 
come sureties for him and his surgeon if I al- 
lowed them to go ? ” questioned Colonel Thomp- 
son with a twinkle in his eye, for he thought that 
would settle the whole matter. 

There was a brief consultation between the two 
men, and then General Preble said : 

“We would.” 

“ Very well, gentlemen,” returned the Colonel, 
speaking decisively. “It was my intention to 
make known to you at this hour the whole plan I 
had in mind when I came here. It included not 
only the capture of Captain Mowatt, but also his 
vessel, and the turning of her entire armament to 
the defense of your town. But I wave my pur- 
pose for the present to test two things : First, 
whether a shot will be fired into your village to- 
night. Orderly,” and he now looked over towards 


114 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the log on which Sergeant Kingsbury and I were 
sitting, bring Captain Mo watt here.” 

In three minutes his order had been obeyed, 
and the British commander stood in the presence 
of the three patriots. 

‘‘ The Town Committee have received this note 
from your executive,” said Colonel Thompson, 
passing the missive I had brought, and which 
still lay on the slab table, over to the officer. 

He read it, remarking when he had finished : 

I knew he would be heard from.” 

Is he a man of his word ? ” queried the Colo- 
nel sharply. 

‘‘Yes, he’ll do just as he says,” Captain Mo watt 
answered with a grin. 

“I am glad to know it,” responded Colonel 
Thompson dryly ; “ but mark you ! I am also a 
man of my word. Therefore listen to what I 
say. I shall take no notice of that letter so far 
as Lieutenant Hogg is concerned. He may fire 
away if he will ; but for every ball he fires I shall 
take off a joint of your body, sir. If you care to 
send any message to him in the light of that fact 
I give you until five o’clock to do so ; ” and he 
motioned the orderly to take the prisoner away. 

As he disappeared the Colonel turned to his 
companions, saying with fine sarcasm : 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 115 

There, gentlemen, I assure you that you and 
every member of your committee may rest quietly 
to-night. Not a cannon on board the Canseau 
will disturb your slumbers. Captain Mowatt, 
though in my hands, is still commander of yonder 
sloop, and he will see that he does not lose a 
joint.” 

His visitors made no reply. Possibly they were 
not yet convinced that he had silenced the British 
guns, but Sergeant Kingsbury and I were ; and 
from that hour, too, we were believers in what is 
now generally conceded by our best citizens, 
namely, this : If Colonel Thompson had been 
allowed to carry out his plans, the goods of Cap- 
tian Coulson would never have been put on the 
King George, and Falmouth would never have 
been burned.* 

The Colonel did not wait long, however, for his 
guests to speak. 

said we would make two tests,” he con- 
tinued; ‘^the second is this : That Captain Mo- 
watt has no respect for his own word. You, gen- 
tlemen, declare that you are willing to become 
the sureties of the two prisoners. Come here, 
then, at seven o^clock to-night, one hour 

* I find this same opinion freely expressed by several his- 
torians of tin's event. — Editor^ 


116 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


after I have made the first test, bringing the 
written pledges of your willingness to become 
hostages for Captain Henry Mowatt and Surgeon 
Jacob Small, and I will take their paroles until 
nine o’clock to-morrow. But I warn you before- 
hand that the British commander will break his 
word, and I shall be obliged to take you into 
custody. I also warn you that to release Cap- 
tain Mowatt means the carrying out of the very 
object for which he entered your bay. But if you 
are willing to take the risk, I am. ” 

‘‘ At seven to-night you shall have our written 
pledges,” was General Preble’s curt response. 

Then Colonel Freeman spoke for the first time 
during that conference. 

‘‘Colonel Thompson,” he said, and there was 
conciliation in his tones, “good men and lovers 
of the same cause may honestly differ. Your 
plans are too radical for us, and in our best judg- 
ment are unnecessary. But we hold you no ill- 
will. As proof of this let me say, we have ar- 
ranged quarters for you and your troops at Mars- 
ton’s, tavern. It will be better than lying out 
here in the chilly night air, and more convenient 
should we wish to consult each other. I trust, 
therefore, you will accept of this offer.” 

“For the sake of my men and your conve- 


IN WHICH GOOD PATRIOTS DISAGREE. 117 

nience, I will,” was the hearty response. an 

hour I will break camp and follow you into the 
village and then the council which really de- 
cided the fate of Falmouth was over. 


CHAPTER VIIL 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN MO WATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 

I DID not go down to the village with Colonel 
Thompson and his men, but a half hour after 
their departure, putting the parcel of clothing 
my mother had given me at our parting under 
my arm, I crossed the fields to the Yarmouth 
road, and entered the town in that way. I took 
care to muddy my boots, and, as far as possible, 
assumed the appearance of one who had made a 
long journey afoot. I must have succeeded in 
my efforts for no one I met, and no one at the 
house, questioned the manner of my coming. 

Jane greeted me cordially as I went into the 
kitchen, and in low tones proceeded to tell me 
what she thought would be news to me. 

Many have already fied the town,” she con- 
cluded, but Mistress Coulson says there will be 
no firing, and I believe her.” 

‘‘So do I,” I replied heartily without telling 
her what had led me to that conviction ; then I 
118 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 119 

went to my chamber to change my clothing be- 
fore I began the usual chores: 

I was scarcely in the room, however, when 
Jane called me saying Miss Dora wished to see 
me. I expected a close questioning about my re- 
cent journey, and, with some misgiving as to 
how I should acquit myself, obeyed the summons. 

But there was no allusion to my absence. In- 
stead Miss Dora, who had the appearance of one 
that had just come in from the street, and who 
was greatly excited over what she had seen and 
heard, immediately exclaimed : 

‘‘ I want you to go down to Marston’s tavern 
right off, Benjamin. Some of the rebels have 
seized Captain Mowatt, and are now holding him 
a prisoner down there. I tried to see him, but 
they wouldn’t let me. It will, however, be different 
with you ; a boy can slip in anywhere. Here is 
a note. Get near enough to the Captain, if you 
can, to hand it to him. Should he give you an 
answer, bring it to me at once. If you fail to 
reach him, stay around the inn and see what they 
do with him and Surgeon Small. There is a 
rumor that the Town Committee is arranging for 
their parole. Let me know if they are released.” 

Certainly, Miss Dora,” I responded, taking 
the note and hurrying away with more delight 


120 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


in my heart than I cared to show on my face. 
For her orders practically gave me the evening 
for myself, and would allow me to be at the 
service of the Committee or of Colonel Thompson 
should either have need of me. 

In her haste Miss Dora had neglected to seal 
her letter, and before I reached Monument Square, 
where the tavern was, I knew its contents. It 
revealed a degree of intimacy between the British 
commander and the writer I did not suspect, for 
it began: ‘‘Dear Henry”; and ended: “Your 
Dora.” But the rest of it was more practical than 
sentimental. It proposed the landing of one 
hundred men from the sloop of war to rescue the 
Captain and his Surgeon. “Send me a written 
or verbal assurance that this movement meets 
your approval, and I will acquaint Lieutenant 
Hogg with your wishes,” was the concluding 
sentence. 

Of course there was but one thing to do with 
the missive, and in five minutes it was in Colonel 
Thompson’s hands. He smiled as he perused it, 
and then gave it back to me, saying : 

“Put it in your pocket, Ben, and return it to 
its fair writer, telling her you had no opportunity 
to deliver it, which will be true, for I shall not 
allow you the chance.” 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 121 

At this instant his orderly showed a short, 
thickset stranger into the room, and, believing I 
was no longer wanted, I arose to go. 

‘‘You may remain in the corridor with the 
sergeant, Ben,” the Colonel said. 

“Yes, sir,” I replied going out with Master 
Kingsbury. 

“Who is that?” I asked of my companion 
when the door had closed upon us. 

“It is Colonel Edmund Phinney of Gorham, 
the commander of the Cumberland County min- 
utemen,” he explained. “He happened to be in 
town when we came down from Mun joy’s Hill, 
and has offered to call in whatever additional 
forces our Colonel may need. I presume they 
will now decide what companies to send for, and 
you and I are likely to be among their mes- 
sengers.” 

“I hope we shall not be sent off until after six 
o’clock,” I remarked jocosely. “I want to see 
whether Lieutenant Hogg is going to bombard 
the village.” 

“He isn’t going to do it,” retorted the sergeant 
with a grin; “and I ought to know for I took 
Captain Mowatt’s letter off to the sloop.” 

“ What did the Lieutenant say when you gave 
it to him ?” I asked with considerable curiosity. 


122 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


“Not a word at first,” my comrade replied, 
“ though he looked as though I had done him the 
greatest favor of his life. Then he handed the 
paper to a man who stood near him, the old Tory 
you work for I guess, who also read it, and threw 
it down upon the cabin table in disgust. It fell 
where I couldn’t help seeing it, and reading it. 
It was brief, but to the point : 

“ ‘ Lieutenant Hogg, 

‘ Sir : — No gun is to be fired on board the sloop 
while I am on shore. 

‘Mow ATT, Commander,^ 

“I tell you, Ben, that redcoat don’t intend to 
lose a single joint, if he can help it.” 

I laughed a little at the sergeant’s comment, 
and then he continued : 

“ The fellow who threw down the message im- 
mediately broke into a tirade in which he de- 
nounced the patriots and Captain Mowatt alike, 
ending up with a demand for the Lieutenant to 
pay no attention to his orders, but to go ahead 
with his shooting. 

“ ‘It will never do,’ the officer said decisively ; 
‘ it might cost the Captain his life, or, should he 
be released, it would result in my disgrace.' 
Turning to me he added : ‘ Tell Captain Mowatt 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 123 

his orders shall be strictly obeyed/ and then he 
dismissed me.” 

‘‘ It looks as though the safest thing for the 
town would he to hold the British commander a 
prisoner,” I suggested when he was done. 

“Yes,” he assented, “and when I reported to 
the Colonel I took care to let him know just what 
the redcoat had written to his executive. But to 
my mind there is more than that in those orders. 
Suppose we armed two vessels and attacked the 
Canseau, would the Lieutenant in the face of 
that command dare turn his guns on us ? ” 

This was a new thought to me, and while I 
was not fully prepared to accept the sergeant’s 
reasoning, I regarded it with sufficient favor to 
exclaim impulsively : 

“I wish Colonel Thompson could make our 
Safety Committee think so.” 

“ He never will,” returned Sergeant Kingsbury 
warmly. “ They are already jealous of him, and 
will be content with nothing short of the release 
of the Britishers. See what I tell you.” 

We were still discussing the matter when the 
door of the Colonel’s room opened, and he himself 
called us in there. He introduced us to Colonel 
Phinney, who, addressing the sergeant, said : 

“We have decided, Master Kingsbury, to call 


124 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


in five companies of the militia from Gorham, 
Windham, Scarborough, Stroud water and Cape 
Elizabeth, but we wish to do it so quietly it will 
not be generally known, until the troops are 
here. I am told it is safe to leave the manage- 
ment of the matter in your hands. Here are the 
letters I have prepared for the five captains. 
Select your men, provide them with horses, and 
send them off in a way to attract as little atten- 
tion as possible. This youngster will doubtless 
do for one messenger, and you will know where 
to find the others. Keport here when your task 
is complete.” 

The orderly did his work well, and in an hour 
five horsemen, unnoticed, left, from different 
points of the village, for their various destina- 
tions. I was assigned to the Stroudwater route, 
and was the fourth man to get away. The hoofs 
of my beast sounded like the low rumbling of 
thunder as I rode over Stroudwater bridge, so 
swiftly did I go ; nor did my good steed falter in 
its pace until I stopped at Captain Peter Warren’s 
door. 

The brawny farmer read the letter I gave him, 
by the light of a candle his hired man held, for it 
was already dusk, and then said : 

“ Tell the Cunnel he’ll hear from me ^ fore 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 125 

mornin,’ an’ I do hope now suthin’ is to be 
did.” 

Before I was out of hearing he and his help had 
saddled horses and ridden away in the opposite 
direction, doubtless to call his company together. 

There was now no special need of pushing my 
own animal, and I jogged slowly back to town, 
reaching there just in time to see the two British- 
ers leave the inn in the company of Colonel Free- 
man and General Preble, who, after some delay 
owing to the unwillingness of the prisoners to 
take a parole for so short a time, had secured 
their release until nine o’clock the next morning. 

Eeporting to Sergeant Kingsbury the success 
of my trip, I hastened home where I returned 
the note to Miss Dora with the simple announce- 
ment that the Captain and Surgeon were already 
free. Then I went to my room for a rest I was 
sadly in need of, for, excepting a few hours in 
the wood-chopper’s shanty, and a briefer time in 
the pines of Mun joy’s Hill, I had no sleep since I 
started for Brunswick. 

The following day was crowded with exciting 
events, though I had little share in them. At an 
early hour troops began to pour into the town, 
and soon our streets were filled with armed men. 
At eight o’clock martial law was proclaimed ; at 


126 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


nine, Captain Mowatt and Surgeon Small failing 
to appear, Colonel Freeman and General Preble 
were taken into custody, and kept as prisoners at 
Marston’s tavern ; at ten a military council was 
held which voted almost unanimously to under- 
take the capture of the Canseau, and appointed a 
committee to ‘‘decide on the best means for 
accomplishing that purpose.” Then the council 
was turned into a tribunal before which Master 
Wiswall and other citizens were arraigned, and 
compelled to declare whether they were for the 
king or for the colonies. The rector vehemently 
affirmed that he was “ an unbeliever in the doc- 
trine of passive obedience and non-resistance,” and 
went out from the court-house to arrange with 
the other preachers of the town for the morrow 
to be observed as “a day of fasting and prayer 
for the success of the colonists.” 

While the tribunal was in session two bodies 
^ of men, taking the law into their own hands, 
determined to pillage the houses of Sheriff Tyng 
and Captain Coulson. More has been made of 
these attacks, however, than the actual circum- 
stances warrant. Enoch Freeman saw the for- 
mer raid, and later told me of it ; while I was a 
part of the second and can speak minutely of 
that. 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 127 

The soldiers marched orderly enough down to 
the Tyng dwelling, and surrounded it, hoping to 
capture the Tory officer himself. But finding 
that he had already escaped to the sloop of war 
in the harbor, they sent in a small delegation to 
search the house for the sheriff’s laced hat and 
other badges of office. These they carried away 
‘‘ as pledges of the owner’s good behavior.” 

The first admonition I had of the march upon 
our house came from Miss Dora who fied out the 
back door, and through the yard, crying out as 
she passed me : 

‘‘ The rebels are coming !” 

Wondering what she meant I ran into the 
kitchen, to find Jane had already gone up-stairs. 
Hastening into the front hall Mistress Coulson’s 
voice called me from above. 

‘‘ What is the trouble, Ben ? ” she asked 
calmly. 

‘‘Miss Dora said the soldiers were coming,” I 
replied ; “ but do not fear ! I think I can keep 
them from coming up where you are. If not, 
you and Jane can go though the partition into 
my chamber ; you will be safe there.” 

“I am not afraid,” she responded, and stood 
there at the head of the stairs, while I threw 
open the street door. 


128 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


On the stoop was a burly corporal, while back 
of him in irregular file were a score of men. 
One glance into the subaltern’s face convinced 
me I had seen him before. He was Captain 
Peter Warren’s hired man. 

‘‘ What do you want ? ” I inquired. 

We are goin’ to raid this here manshun,” he 
answered with a grin, and trying to push by 
me. 

“ Don’t you know me ? ” I demanded sternly. 

He stopped and looked me over. Be you the 
chap who came out to the capt’n’s last night ? ” 
he finally questioned. 

‘‘ Yes,” I said ; and that proves I am as good 
a patriot as you. ” 

It was clear that he was puzzled ; for looking 
along the house and out into the yard, he asked : 

“Isn’t this the old Tory Coulson’s place ? ” 

“Yes,” I admitted ; “ but let me tell you some- 
thing. While the Captain is a Tory, his wife is 
not. She is a sister of Colonel Thompson, and an 
invalid. Surely you will not disturb her.” 

“ How ’m I to know you tell the truth ? ” he 
queried gruffly. 

“ Because I am a patriot,” I responded quickly, 
“ else I shouldn’t have been your Colonel’s mes- 
senger. Or, if you prefer, you can send one of 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HiS WORD. 1^9 

your men down to the inn, and find out from the 
Colonel himself.” 

But that was just what the fellow did not wish 
to do, and while his men waited impatiently, he 
pondered over the matter. 

‘‘ Look here ! ” he at length exclaimed as though 
a happy thought had come to him. “You say 
Mistress Coulson is a patriot ; where is she ? Up- 
stairs ? ” 

“Yes,” I assented. 

“Well, that’s her part of the house, and we 
won’t touch it,” he announced ; “ while this here,” 
and he waved his hands so as to cover the lower 
story, “is the Captain’s, an’ he’s a Tory fast 
enough, so we’ll just pillage that.” 

Considering myself fortunate to save the mis- 
tress from annoyance I was about to step ooe side 
and let him enter, when there came a cry from 
outside. 

“Here, corporal! we’ve found a way into the 
cellar; and it’s all full of the Tory’s wine and 
other goods. It is what we are after ; come 
on 1 ” 

At the call the subaltern turned, and, followed 
by the men who stood about him, went around to 
the west side of the house where the entrance to 
the cellar was. In a few minutes they had gutted 
9 


130 


A TORY’S REVENGE, 


the place ; and, bringing up teams from some un- 
known quarter, they were soon busy packing on 
the vehicles the casks and cases they had secured. 
Then they drove away, not to drink the wines and 
liquors as has been often reported, but to carry 
them into the country where they were stored for 
some months, and then turned over to the Gen- 
eral Court as confiscated property.* 

In an hour they were gone without further dis- 
turbing us, but Miss Dora did not return, and, 
considering myself for the time being my own 
master, I soon after dinner went down town. I 
found the military court had hastily adjourned a 
few minutes before, owing to a rumor that had 
reached it that there was much rioting among the 
troops. With the return of the head officers to 
their companies, however, all tendency to disturb- 
ance ceased, and the streets were already as quiet 
as though there was not a soldier in the village. 

But it was easy for a shrewd observer to see 
that there were two opposing factions in the place. 
At Greele’s tavern the members of the Safety 
Committee and their friends had congregated, 

* I have seen a copy of the list of these articles as returned to 
the General Court, showing that Master Mathews is correct in 
his statement, though some historians differ from him. — 
Editor. 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 131 

while at Marston’s the outside military was 
strongly in evidence ; and between the two parties 
negotiations were pending for the release of Mas- 
ters Freeman and Preble, who were still held as 
hostages for the recreant Britishers. 

As I stood in front of Greele’s inn Master The- 
ophilus Parsons came up to me. 

“ Benjamin,” he inquired, would you be will- 
ing to go off to the sloop, and, acquainting Cap- 
tain Mowatt with the fact that our two colleagues 
are held as securities for himself and surgeon, ask 
why they have not appeared ? ” 

I thought the matter over a moment, and then 
said : 

“If Colonel Freeman and General Preble wish 
it, and Colonel Thompson does not object, I will 
do it.” 

He laughed. “You are as politic as a lawyer ; 
but come with me, and we’ll see. ” 

He led the way over to Marston’s, and without 
difficulty secured an audience with Colonel 
Thompson and his hostages. To them he made 
known his proposal, and secured the hearty con- 
sent of all parties to it. “You will find he has 
broken his parole intentionally,” was the Colonel’s 
declaration ; while his prisoners were sure the 
moment the officer learned of their actual arrest 


132 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


he would hasten to their relief. He had no idea 
we would be taken into custody, ” they said. 

‘‘ That is no excuse for breaking his word,’’ 
was their captor’s stinging reply. 

I went down to our boathouse expecting to find 
a yawl there, but discovered that the building had 
been ransacked, and the boats destroyed. 

They won’t leave the Captain anything, if this 
work goes on,” I commented as I walked along to 
Preble’s wharf, where I found a skiff and rowed 
out to the Canseau. 

No attempt was made to prevent my approach 
the moment I announced my name, and, on board- 
ing the sloop, I was taken at once to the cabin, 
where the British commander and the two Tories, 
Captain Coulson and Sheriff Tyng, were engaged 
in a game of cards. 

Eepresenting myself as acting wholly for the 
Captain’s hostages I explained the situation they 
were in, and presented their query. 

Captain Mowatt’s eyes sparkled as he ex- 
claimed : 

‘‘So that stubby fire-eater* actually arrested 
my good sureties, did he ? ” 

“Yes, sir.” 


Colonel Thompson was a short, thick-set man. — Editor, 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT BREAKS HIS WORD. 133 


‘‘And is still holding them prisoners ?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ Congratulate me,” he cried, turning to his 
companions. “I have made the greatest discov- 
ery of the times. Set rebel against rebel, and 
this whole colonial question will solve itself. The 
cursed rascals will destroy each other,” and then 
he and his comrades laughed uproariously. 

I waited a long while for their mirth to cease ; 
but in the comments each one now made upon the 
predicament in which the Colonel and General 
found themselves they seemed to find new cause 
for merriment. At length, anxious to leave the 
presence of those I heartily despised, I ventured 
to ask : 

“ What shall I tell Colonel Freeman and Gen- 
eral Preble ? ” 

“Tell them,” Captain Mowatt answered with 
a wink at his friends ; “ tell them my washer- 
woman sent me word it wasn’t healthy for me to 
come on shore, so I stayed away ; ” then all 
laughed more uproariously than ever. 

Indignant as I was at the perfidy and heartless- 
ness of the man, I did not betray my feelings as 
I bowed and left the cabin. 

Fifteen minutes later I reported to the two 
hostages, without any attempt to varnish them 


V 


134 : 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


over, all the details of that interview ; and, 
chagrined and disappointed, they for the first 
time admitted the truth of Colonel Thompson’s 
declaration : ‘‘ Captain Mo watt is not a man of 
his word.” 


CHAPTER IX. 


IN WHICH I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. 

The next day was like a Sabbath. All business 
was suspended ; the soldiers kept closely to their 
assigned quarters ; and bands of devout men and 
women frequented the churches to pray, not as had 
been originally designed for the success of the pa- 
triots in their efforts to capture the British sloop, 
but for the deliverance of the town from the peril 
that now threatened it. 

One unexpected result came from the hallowed 
influences of the day — possibly the way had been 
prepared for it by the release of Colonel Freeman 
and General Preble the evening before : the two 
opposing factions came to a better understanding 
of each other ; and by mutual consent it was ar- 
ranged that early on the morrow all troops were 
to be withdrawn from the village, and the town 
leaders were to be left to settle the problems that 
confronted them for themselves. 

You see it has turned out just as I told you,” 
135 


136 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Sergeant Kingsbury said to me as we sauntered 
along the shore to the north of the village a little 
before nightfall. Through the jealousy of your 
safety committee nothing has been accomplished 
by our coming here. The British commander is 
in a position to carry out his original purpose, 
and though I’m neither a prophet, nor the son of 
a prophet, I do not hesitate to predict that he will 
do that very thing the moment we are gone.” 

Why then did he parley so with the Commit- 
tee ? ” I asked, raising a question which Enoch 
Freeman and I had discussed earlier in the after- 
noon, and with which my chum had silenced if he 
had not convinced me. Why didn’t he show his 
hand at once ? ” 

‘‘lean only give you my own opinion about 
that,” the subaltern answered. “I think he de- 
sired to get your leaders to do something, or say 
something, which would warrant his arresting 
them and taking them to Boston with him on his 
return. He and that old Tory are schemers, you 
may depend, and there isn’t anything they’d like 
better than getting such men as Freeman and 
Preble and Parsons into their clutches. I tell you 
they’ll have to be mighty careful in their negotia- 
tions after we are gone, or the Britisher will clap 
irons on to them.” 


I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. 137 

As the officer was speaking there came to my 
mind the letter of Miss Dora, which I had opened 
and read in the boathouse a few evenings before. 
In that she had suggested the very course of deal- 
ing with our town leaders which the sergeant now 
mentioned. Colonel Freeman and General Preble 
were named, too, in the list of patriots she had 
given in that missive ; and what was more, 
they, through the report I had sent them of that 
document, knew it. Was this the reason why 
they objected to the seizure of Captain Mowatt ? 
Why they had been so prompt to offer themselves 
as hostages ? Why they were trying to keep the 
Britisher from his purpose by peaceful measures, 
rather than by a resolute and open defiance ? If 
so, while I did not doubt their patriotism, I felt 
sure they had adopted a course which would 
fail ; the redcoat would carry out the purpose 
for which he had been sent into the harbor ; 
and he would furthermore do what his admiral 
had not authorized him to do : arrest the town 
leaders could he find a reasonable pretext for so 
doing.* 

I was so busy with my thoughts I did not heed 

* It seems to me that this is a more plausible explanation 
of the attitude of the Falmouth committee at this time than 
any other chronicler of the affair has given.— Editor. 


138 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


what else my companion was saying until he sud- 
denly exclaimed : 

Look there ! A boat is leaving the sloop of 
war and coming up this way ! What do you sup- 
pose it means ? ” 

I glanced down the bay, and, though it was 
nearly dark, saw a yawl containing six- sailors 
and an officer had left the Canseau, and was pull- 
ing in our direction. 

‘^Perhaps it is worth watching,” I suggested ; 
a proposition which met my comrade’s approval, 
and in another minute we were snugly concealed 
in an adjacent thicket, from which we had an 
unobstructed view of the coming boat. 

It came slowly as though coveting the darkness 
which was now fast falling, but at length touched 
the shore not over fifty yards from us. 

Immediately the officer leaped out, and gave 
the cry of a whippoorwill. It was answered 
from the woods twenty rods away, and then a 
man came rapidly down to the beach. 

‘‘ Good evening. Midshipman Gay,” he said. 

“Good evening. Master Domette,” the subal- 
tern replied. 

I did not need the latter salutation, however, 
to tell me who the new-comer was. The moment 
he spoke I recognized him as the Tory who had 


I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. I39 

captured me in the forest near Brunswick, and, in 
a low whisper, acquainted the sergeant with that 
fact. 

He is the agent of Captain Coulson,” I added, 
‘‘and if I mistake not we shall now learn of some 
new scheme of my employer.” 

The next words of the midshipman confirmed 
my declaration. 

“Have you secured the fresh meat for us?” 
he asked. 

“Yes,” Master Domette replied ; “I got Jere- 
miah Pote to kill a steer this morning, and it is 
now quartered and hanging up in his barn await- 
ing your coming. But you will have to send 
your men up there to bring it down, for it was too 
heavy for us, and we didn’t dare to look up help 
lest we should give the whole job away. There 
are a good many prying eyes in town just now.” 

“Very good,” the officer responded. “Here, 
lads, you go along with Master Domette and get 
the beef. I’ll stay by the boat. Be as quick as 
possible about it.” 

The sailors stepped out of the yawl, and drew 
it well up on the sands ; then they followed the 
Tory into the woods, while their commander, 
lighting his pipe, walked slowly along towards 
our hiding-place. 


140 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


We must capture that fellow/’ the sergeant 
exclaimed in my ear. Be ready to jump out on 
him when I do.” 

I was quite sure the act would not meet the 
approval of the Town Committee, and had my 
doubts whether Colonel Thompson under the 
existing circumstances would regard it as a wise 
thing to do, but had no time to remonstrate with 
my companion. Already the redcoat was oppo- 
site us ; in another instant he was beyond us ; 
and with the stealthiness of a cat Master Kings- 
bury sprang upon him. I was not the one to 
desert a comrade at such a time and followed 
closely at his heels. 

Before the Britisher discovered his presence the 
stalwart patriot had grasped him about the neck 
with a clutch he could not shake off. 

Hush ! ” he said sternly ; a cry now will 
cost you your life.” Then he continued to me : 

“Here, Ben, disarm the fellow.” 

In a moment I had removed the sword and 
pistol from the midshipman’s belt, and he, find- 
ing himself outnumbered and without weapons, 
managed to gasp out : “ Don’t hurt me ! I sur- 
render ! ” 

“That is sensible,” remarked Sergeant Kings- 
bury, loosening his hold on the officer somewhat, 


1 BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. l4i 

and as long as you keep quiet and obey us, we 
won’t bind you. Come along,” and he led the 
way to the boat. 

^‘Push off the craft, Ben,” he directed, and I 
soon had it in the water. 

Step in,” he ordered the prisoner, then he 
had me follow him, while he himself embarked 
last, taking up the oars. 

‘‘I want you to keep guard over the officer, 
and run him through, or shoot him down, if he 
makes any noise or attempts to escape,’’ he re- 
marked as he pulled down the harbor. 

I knew by the direction the yawl had taken 
under his powerful strokes that he was making 
for the village, and suspected his purpose. But 
he soon made it known. 

Do you know where Jeremiah Pote’s barn is, 
Ben ? ” he asked. 

Yes,” I answered. 

How long will it take those sailors to go up 
there and come back with the beef ? ” 

Nearly an hour in this darkness and loaded 
down as they will be on the return trip.” 

Good ! ” he ejaculated. “ I can get back 
there before that time with men enough to bag 
the whole lot.” 

‘‘ They will have no boat, and I don’t see how 


142 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


they will get away,” I remarked with a low 
laugh. 

‘‘True,” he admitted, “but it will be better to 
be in waiting for them.” 

A few minutes later we touched the wharf 
nearest to Monument Square, and in a briefer 
time were at Marston’s tavern with our prisoner. 

I could not tell from Colonel Thompson’s face 
as he listened to the story whether he was pleased 
or displeased with the capture of the midshipman. 
He heard the tale, and the subaltern’s proposi- 
tion to go back with a squad of men and capture 
the six sailors, unmoved ; he made no imme- 
diate reply when Master Kingsbury was done ; he 
seemed for a few minutes like one who was in- 
different to the whole matter. 

How long that indifference would have con- 
tinued, had not Midshipman Gay put in a word, 
I cannot say. But the Britisher, who had for 
some time been looking at my face intently, now 
remarked significantly : 

“ I shall know you, youngster, the next time 
you come off to the sloop.” 

“ Then it is better you should not return there 
yourself,” exclaimed Colonel Thompson, with the 
tones of one who had reached a positive conclu- 
sion. “Sergeant Kingsbury, take a squad of 


I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. 143 

men and capture the boat’s crew ! Master Gay 
shall have company in his sojourn with us.” 

The command was scarcely out of his mouth 
before his orderly bounded away ; and I would 
have followed him had not a word from the 
Colonel stopped me. 

‘‘No, Ben,” he said, with a shake of his head, 
“ the less you have to do with this affair the bet- 
ter will be your standing with your Committee. 
Then, too, should any of the sailors see you, and 
afterwards escape to the ship, your usefulness 
as a messenger there would be destroyed. Ke- 
main here and entertain Master Gay, while I 
busy myself with some writing ; I shall have an 
errand for you when the sergeant returns.” 

For the next hour, therefore, the midshipman 
and I were left to ourselves. I found him at first 
inclined to be reticent, but slowly he thawed 
out, and at length proved himself to be quite an 
agreeable companion. 

He was telling me of an adventure he had had 
in the West Indies when the door opened and 
Sergeant Kingsbury marched into the room, 
followed by six sailors. 

“ Here we are, sir,” the orderly reported, salut- 
ing his commander. Then he told how he had 
reached the beach with his squad a few minutes 


144 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


before the arrival of the tars, and secured them 
without difficulty. 

But those blasted Tories escaped,” he con- 
cluded ; they were some distance behind the red- 
coats, and saw us in time to drop the quarter of 
beef they were carrying, and plunge into the 
woods.” 

It matters little,” the Colonel responded. ‘‘ I 
will leave it for the town council to deal with 
them. Here, Ben,” he added, turning to me, ‘^is 
a full account of this seizure, though it in no way 
implicates you. It is now nine o’clock ; I wish 
you to wait an hour, and then take it to General 
Preble. Before that time I and my men will be 
on our way to Brunswick with the prisoners. 
Captain Mowatt will know by this letter who is 
responsible for this last outrage, and can come 
down our way and settle with me, if he cares to 
do so,” and he smiled grimly. 

In a few minutes, by squads of ten, his men 
were sent quietly out of town to their boats. The 
Colonel himself was the last to go ; but before 
leaving he took me by the hand, saying : 

I appreciate your faithfulness to me, and 
shall remember it. In the long conflict which is 
before us it may be that I can be of service to you ; 
if so, command me. Give my love to my sister — ” 


I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. 145 

and then as bold and true a patriot as I ever knew 
departed. 

At the appointed hour I took the letter which 
had been intrusted to me around to General 
Preble's house. A servant I did not know an- 
swered my knock, and giving the missive to her 
for the officer, I went home. It was the middle 
of the next forenoon when Enoch Freeman came 
into the garden where I was at work, and asked 
excitedly ; 

‘‘Isay, Ben, do you know Colonel Thompson 
captured a boat-load of redcoats last night, and 
has carried them off to Brunswick ? ” 

“ Is that so ? I questioned, thinking it wiser 
to conceal my knowledge of the affair. 

“ Yes,” he went on, “and Captain Mowatt sent 
word on shore early this morning that he’d burn 
the town if the men were not given up.” 

“What will the Committee do about it?” I 
asked with real interest. 

“ They sent him a letter Colonel Thompson had 
left behind, showing that he alone was responsible 
for the act, and so the Britisher exonerated the 
town leaders, but declared he should fire on the 
village if the militia, or ‘that outside mob,’ as he 
called it, did not immediately disperse.” 

“ What then ? ” I still queried, 

10 


146 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Why, they told the Captain the soldiers had 
already begun to leave, and in an hour or two 
would be gone. They also asked him for his long 
delayed answer about unloading the Coulson 
sloop.” 

Did he give them any reply ? ” I asked, and so 
eager was I to hear his answer, I for the first time 
since he came paused in my work. 

He said they would know before noon what 
he was going to do, and they have already found 
out,” my friend responded with increasing ex- 
citement. 

‘^What is that?” 

He has sent armed boats over to the King 
George, unfastened her from her moorings, and 
is now towing her down alongside of the John 
and Mary. Come out here in the street, and you 
can see for yourself.” 

I followed him over the fence into the back 
lane, and was soon where I had a good view of 
the harbor. Half-way down to the English sloop 
was Captain Coulson’s new ship, and there could 
be no doubt of her destination. 

That means he is going to transfer the cargo 
under the protection of the Canseau’s guns ! ” I 
exclaimed bitterly ; ^‘and it is just what Colonel 
Thompson said he would do. Oh ! Enoch, they 


1 BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE. U7 

ought to have held on to the Britisher when they 
had him in their hands ! ” 

agree with you,” he answered quickly; 

and I guess the Safety Committee think so 
now. They are in session, but I do not see how 
they can stop the redcoat from carrying out his 
purpose.” 

‘‘They can do nothing,” I declared, leaving him 
and going with a sad heart hack to my work. 
Barely had I reached the garden, however, when 
I heard a step coming around the corner of the 
barn, and the next moment, to my astonishment, 
Captain Coulson himself appeared. 

“Busy at it, Ben,” he remarked so pleasantly 
I could not help thinking that Captain Mowatt’s 
movement had something to do with it. “It is 
to your credit to be so industrious whether I am 
here or not. But this planting can wait. I want 
you to go off to the sloop with me.” 

“Yes, sir,” I replied, for I did not know what 
else to say ; yet I was not pleased with his order. 
It might mean he was going to put me to work 
there, a thing I did not relish. Eeluctantly, 
therefore, I accompanied him down to the wharf, 
all the way debating with myself whether to sub- 
mit quietly to any demands he might make, or to 
rebel openly against him. 


148 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


At the dock a yawl was in waiting in ' which 
there were already four men, every one a Tory. 

Get in,” the Captain said sternly, detecting 
a little hesitation on my part about embarking. 
Mechanically I obeyed, and sat in the stern with 
him, while the other occupants took the blades, 
and pulled off to the John and Mary. 

Once there I was to set to work helping to 
break out the cargo, and for three days, inclu- 
ding a Sunday, was kept hard at a task against 
which my soul revolted. On Monday the trans- 
fer was completed, and with a hopeful heart I 
began to count the moments when I should be 
sent on shore. 

But I speedily found there was a different fate 
in store for me. Already the sloop of war was 
weighing her anchor ; soon her sails were flung 
to the breeze ; and then an order was given for 
the John and Mary to take the King George in 
tow (her masts had not yet been stepped) and 
follow the Canseau down the bay. 

‘‘ Am I not to go on shore ? ” I ventured to ask 
of Captain Coulson, who was standing near me. 

“No,” he thundered, apparently noticing my 
presence on the quarter-deck for the first time. 
“You are to go forward, and take your place 
with the crew ! ” 



I was about to remonstrate when Captain Coulson struck me 
on the head with his fist, knocking me under the gunwale, 
^age 149. A Tory's Revenge 







7 II- • - ■ - ■ ’is . iji 





I BEGIN AN UNEXPECTED VOYAGE 


149 


Then seeing I was about to remonstrate, he 
struck me on the head with his fist, knocking me 
under the gunwale. 

Go forward, I say ! ” he screamed as I picked 
myself up, and arming himself with a bit of rope 
he chased me down the deck. 

I avoided him by hurrying on to the forecastle, 
where the second mate set me to work helping to 
stow away the anchor. So in a trice I became 
a part of the vessel’s crew, and started on an 
unexpected voyage. 


CHAPTER X. 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 

We were out upon the ocean, and I was sitting 
on the heel of the bowsprit nursing my wrath at 
the way I had been treated, when Sam Green, 
an old salt, and one of the regular crew of the 
John and Mary, came along where I was. 

‘‘I take it, lad,” he said good-naturedly, ‘^ye 
don’t care to he a sailor.” 

‘‘ I have no objection to being a sailor,” I re- 
plied, ‘‘but I don’t like the way I have been shipped 
for this voyage,” and I told him how I had been 
served. 

He filled and lit his pipe before he made any 
reply, and when he did speak I could not see what 
it had to do with the story I had been telling. 

“ Lemme tie yer kerchief in sailor fashion, Ben ; 
now that ye are one of us ye want to get the land 
marks off of ye,” and he deftly undid my neck- 
cloth, and retied it in a sailor’s knot. “ There 1 ” 
he ejaculated when the job was finished, and with 
150 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 151 

the word he dropped a bit of paper inside of my 
shirt. Then he turned abruptly away. 

It was some time before I was able to examine 
the slip unnoticed, but when I did I found it was 
not as I had expected, a communication from 
Master Green himself, but a line from Mistress 
Coulson, written that morning, and reading : 

It is possible to serve the cause where you 
are, Ben.” 

I understood her. I was to keep watch of the 
Captain, and report to her or the Committee any 
movement on his part that would affect the cause. 
But what had Sam Green to do with it, and how 
came he in possession of that note ? Was he also 
a trusted messenger of the mistress, and would it 
be safe to talk matters over with him ? I deter- 
mined to take nothing for granted, and leave it 
for the old sailor to explain his relation to her and 
the cause whenever he thought best. 

In better humor than I had been since I came 
on board the sloop, I now went about my work, 
and soon had the satisfaction of knowing I had 
won the approbation of the mate by my prompt 
response to his orders. 

“That lad has the making of a sailor in him,” 
he said to Sam Green in my hearing, and I wish 
you would take him under your special care.” 


152 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘IVe did it already, sir,” was the sailor’s re- 
sponse, and I was certain his answer had a mean- 
ing for me which the officer did not comprehend. 

I supposed we were bound for Boston, and that 
was evidently the destination of the Canseau ; 
but when off Portsmouth harbor the John and 
Mary changed her course, and, with her tow, 
sailed for that town. 

“I wonder what that means?” I inquired of 
Master Green, who stood near me, and I did it 
more to test him than in expectation of obtaining 
any information, for it was the first time we had 
been alone since he gave me the note. 

‘‘ ril tell ye when I find out,” he answered in a 
low tone, moving quickly away, as though to 
avoid further conversation. 

It was not long before he was called to his trick 
at the wheel, and a few minutes later I was, to 
my surprise, ordered by the mate to join him. 

“ I asked for ye,” was the old tar’s greeting ; 
‘‘ I thought ’twas a good time for ye to learn to 
steer ; ” then as I took hold of the spokes of the 
wheel he bent his head down over me and added 
in a whisper : Keep ye’re ears open ; the ole 
man talks loud ’nough to be heered clear here.” 

We were favored beyond our most sanguine ex- 
pectations. It was the middle of the afternoon ; 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 153 

a fair wind was blowing ; and the sail up the bay 
became too enticing for any one to remain long 
below deck. Soon Captain Coulson and Master 
Thomas Boss, one of the Tories who had boarded 
the sloop when I did, came out of the cabin. 
Standing with their backs to us, but only a few 
feet away, they looked off towards the town we 
were rapidly approaching. 

We shall be in in good season,” Master Boss 
remarked. 

^‘Yes,” admitted the Captain; ‘‘and if our 
plan works we shall before night have secured 
masts and spars for the King George.” 

“ I do not see why it will not work,” returned 
the other confidently ! “No name is yet painted 
on your ship, and I shall call her the Greywing. 
My reason for coming here to secure the sticks 
is a plausible one. You have but to keep out of 
sight, and who will suspect she is your vessel ? ” 

“And what a joke it will be on the outfitter 
when she, all ready for sea, unfurls the king’s 
flag and takes the king’s name,” added her owner 
with a chuckle. 

Sam and I looked at each other, but made no 
comment. I am not sure I should have done so 
had the opportunity offered ; for I had not yet 
decided how far I could trust my comrade. But 


154 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


of one thing I was certain : Captain Coulson 
would not get his spars in Portsmouth if I could 
prevent it. 

In an hour we came to anchor a short distance 
below the village, and a few minutes thereafter 
Master Koss entered a yawl and rowed himself 
ashore. It was after dark before he returned. 
The Captain met him at the rail. 

How goes it ? ” he asked. 

‘‘Nicely,” was the answer ; and then the two 
hastened down below. 

An irresistible thirst seized me, and, hastening 
aft to the water-cask, I stood in front of the cabin 
when Master Koss made his report. 

“After some search,” he said, “I found just 
what you want in the yard of Gilbert Holloway. 
He will come off to the ship in the morning and 
take her measure, and says he can have her ready 
for sea in three weeks.” 

I did not wait to hear more, but walked slowly 
forward, pondering over the problem which I had 
to solve, namely : how to acquaint Master Hollo- 
way with the fact that the ship was the property 
of a Tory. 

I paused near the larboard railing, and looked 
up towards the town whose lights were twinkling 
in the distance, busy with my thoughts. Then a 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. I55 

hand was laid upon my shoulder and Sam Green 
asked in my ear : 

Can ye row, lad ? ” 

Yes,” I replied, an inkling of his plan creep- 
ing into my mind. 

He was silent for a moment, and then he said : 

‘ ‘ Come here ! ” 

Stepping along to the bowsprit he took hold of 
my hand and guided it out into the darkness 
until it touched a rope, one end of which was 
fastened to the spar, while the other ran down 
towards the water. 

‘‘Boat,” he whispered; “use it ’tween the 
watches,” and then he left me. 

Like a flash I recalled the fact that Sam had 
taken the boat, when Master Eoss returned, to 
fasten it at the stern of the sloop. Instead he 
had brought it along to the bow ; and now he 
wished me when the watch was changed to slip 
into the yawl and visit the village, trusting that 
in the darkness my going and coming would not 
be detected. It was a possible scheme, and I de- 
termined to undertake it ; but how did the old 
sailor know that was the very move necessary to 
thwart Captain Coulson’s purpose ? Had he 
guessed at it, or had he, like myself, overheard 
Master Eoss’ report ? If so, how ? 


15G 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Puzzle as I would over the matter I had to leave 
it, for Master Green gave me no other opportuni- 
ty to converse with him. At the changing of the 
watch, however, I was in readiness for my trip, 
and slipping done into the boat unobserved, I 
drifted away on an incoming tide. When far 
enough away to make it safe to do so, I took up 
the oars and pulled rapidly on towards the town. 
Landing a little south of the village, I secured the 
yawl, and then hastened across the fields to the 
nearest street. 

My plan of action was already matured. Un- 
certain as to whether Master Holloway was a pa- 
triot or a Tory, I had resolved to call on some 
member of the Safety Committee to whom I would 
tell my story, and leave it for him to acquaint the 
owner of the shipyard with the true character of his 
prospective customer. With this end in view, there- 
fore, I approached the first house and knocked. 
I was obliged to rap twice before I aroused any- 
one and then a voice asked : 

‘‘ Who are you ? What do you want ? ” 

“ A messenger to your Town Committee,” I re- 
plied. ‘‘Can you tell me the way to some mem- 
ber’s house ? ” 

“That I can,” was the hearty response, and 
the next instant a window opened, a head was 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 157 

thrust out, and its owner tried to get a glimpse 
of me. 

Hum ! a boy ! ’’ he said. Well, go up this 
street to the next one, turn to your left, and stop 
at the third house on the right.’’ 

What is the man’s name? ” I inquired. 

Gilbert Holloway,” was the surprising answer ; 
‘‘he is the nearest member, and you’ll find him 
as staunch a patriot as there is in the colony. No 
bad news for the cause, I hope ? ” 

“No, sir,” I answered ; and thanking him for 
his kindness I hurried on. 

I found the house he had designated without 
trouble, and soon had awakened the shipbuilder. 

“I have an important message for you person- 
ally, sir, and one that affects the cause,” I an- 
nounced. 

“ I will join you immediately,” he responded ; 
and in a moment he let me in. Leading me to 
the living room, he listened to my tale without 
comment or interruption until I had finished ; 
then he said : 

“I can see no reason why you should make this 
visit here to-night unless you tell me the truth, 
and do it for the cause’s sake. Therefore I say this 
to you : I would cut off this right hand rather 
than sell a stick of timber to the notorious Tory ; 


158 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


and hark ye, lad, he knows it ! That is why he 
would play this despicable trick on me. But I 
shall be even with him. Eeturn to the vessel. 
Say nothing to any one. Think it not strange if 
on the morrow my men measure the ship as though 
about to step her masts. In the end the rascally 
loyalist shall not get a spar, and it may be he will 
lose his craft.” 

Confident that I had accomplished my purpose 
in visiting the shore I bade the shipbuilder good 
night, and returned to my boat. Not over two 
hours had elapsed since I left the sloop, but as the 
tide had now turned, I decided to drop down un- 
der the shadow of the vessel and watch for an 
opportunity to board her unseen. 

The first part of my undertaking was easy. 
Seated in the stern of the yawl I sculled it noise- 
lessly down the harbor, guided by the light on 
the mast of the John and Mary. When within a 
f rod or two of her I took out the oar, and let the 
boat drift slowly under her bow. Catching hold 
of the stem I held my craft there, listening intent- 
ly. Hearing no sound I ventured to throw the 
painter over the bowsprit, and so secured the 
yawl. My act passed unnoticed, and elated with 
my success I sat there, debating with myself 
whether to mount the deck immediately, or to 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 159 

wait until the watch was changed. I probably 
should have decided upon the latter course had not 
a noise soon reached iny ears which was unmis- 
takable — it was a snore. 

Drawing the yawl up close to the sloop I stood 
up in it, and peered stealthily over the railing. 
Dark as it was I made out a huge form reclining 
on the deck, shoulders against the capstan, and ex- 
actly from that quarter the sound I had heard 
came regularly and distinctly. 

‘‘ It is Bill Saunders ; he’d sleep anywhere,” I 
soliloquized ; and then I swung myself lightly up 
on to the bowsprit, and crept down on the deck. 
Keeping in the shadows I made my way to the 
forehatch, and descended. The heavy breathing 
of my comrades assured me I had disturbed none 
of them, and in another instant I was in my own 
berth apparently as sound asleep as they. 

When Sam Green did it I do not know, but the 
next time I went on deck the yawl in which I had 
made my trip was swinging lazily at the stern of 
the sloop, and I found it hard to persuade myself 
that my visit to the shore was not a dream. The 
illusion was all the more real from the fact that 
the old sailor said nothing to me about the trip, 
not even when a gang of men from Master Hol- 
loway’s yard came off to the King George, and, 


160 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


with every show of promptly equipping her with 
masts and spars, measured her from stem to stern. 
He acted rather like one who was totally indiffer- 
ent to the matter, and a little piqued by his indif- 
ference I remained as reticent as himself. 

Captain Coulson, however, though he kept 
closely to the John and Mary, clearly showed his 
interest in the shipbuilder’s proceedings, and the 
times he sent Master Ross over to the ship with 
some special instructions were almost innumer- 
able. Finally Master Holloway, who was direct- 
ing the men in person, turned on his visitor, say- 
ing : 

‘^Now look here. Master Ross, if there is some 
other man back of you, and you are only acting 
as his mouthpiece, go and bring the boss over 
here, and let me have a talk with him. He and I 
cannot understand each other simply by your fly- 
ing back and forth between us.” 

Frightened by this hint at the real condition of 
things the pseudo-owner mumbled out some lame 
apology, and fled back to the sloop, where he 
repeated the conversation to his employer in my 
hearing, adding testily : 

‘‘ If you don’t allow me to manage the equip- 
ment of the ship in my own way. Captain, I’ll 
wash my hands of the whole affair. I fear now 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 161 

that you have awakened suspicions which will 
end in revealing your ownership of the craft.” 

Though angry enough with both his agent and 
the shipbuilder to curse them, the Tory chief had 
the sense to see he might jeopardize his own 
interests, if he persisted in the course he had been 
pursuing, and so he retired sullenly to the cabin 
leaving Master Eoss in full charge of his business 
affairs. 

For some reason, however, matters did not 
progress very rapidly after the measurement of 
the ship. Several days elapsed and still nothing 
was done on the vessel. Master Eoss visited the 
shore frequently, hut always came back with 
some excuse for the long delay. But on the fifth 
morning two boats loaded with what seemed to 
he workmen were seen pulling down the harbor 
towards the mastless craft. 

‘‘ They are coming to tow her up to the yard,” 
Captain Coulson declared when he saw them ap- 
proaching ; ‘^at last something will be done.” 

But the loaded yawls soon shaped their course 
for the John and Mary, and fearing he might be 
recognized the shipowner fled into the cabin 
leaving his agent to face the visitors. 

A dozen yards off the sloop the light craft 
paused, and a gray-haired man, standing up in 


162 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


the stern of the foremost one, asked in a loud 
voice : 

Are you Master Thomas Ross ? ” 

‘‘ Yes,” the Tory answered curtly. 

I desire to inform you, sir,” the man went on, 
that I am sent here by the Town Committee to 
take possession of this sloop and yonder ship as 
the property of one Captain Samuel Coulson of 
Falmouth. I have a score of armed men with me, 
and resistance is useless.” 

He then gave the word, and one boat dashed 
alongside of the John and Mary, while the other 
went over to the King George, and soon both 
decks were swarming with armed patriots. 

Master Ross hastened down into the cabin 
where the commander of the soldiers found him 
and Captain Coulson. 

‘‘ My orders are, gentlemen,” he said courteously, 
to hold possession of these two vessels until the 
Provincial Council decides whether they are to be 
confiscated or not. We have communicated with 
the authorities at Falmouth, and they have re- 
ferred the matter to the Assembly itself. Until 
some decision is reached, therefore, I and my 
men will be compelled to remain here as unwel- 
come guests.” 

He had the three men in charge of the ship sent 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 163 


over to the sloop, and reduced the guard there to 
a half dozen soldiers. On the John and Mary, 
however, while no one was confined, a rigid sur- 
veillance was established, and an armed force was 
always on guard large enough to quell any out- 
break. 

In this manner day after day passed ; no word 
came from the Council ; and how long the vessels 
would have been held in that situation can only 
be conjectured. Their release was as sudden 
as unexpected : early one morning the British 
war-ship Senegal, Lieutenant Duddington, com- 
mander, sailed into the bay. Believing her pur- 
pose was to free the Tory’s ships, a hurried order 
was sent down from the Safety Committee for 
the patriots who were in charge of them to return 
to the shore. Before the man-of-war was off the 
town, therefore, they had departed ; and Captain 
Coulson, rejoicing over the turn in affairs, ordered 
out a boat and went over to his deliverer. 

He found to his surprise that Lieutenant Dud- 
dington knew nothing of the predicament he was 
in, and that the coming of the Senegal was merely 
in the way of a general order ‘^to cruise along 
the shore as far as the Penobscot and ascertain 
whether the rebels in that region were in a state 
of quietude.” But the Britisher did not hesitate 


164 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


to turn his coming to the advantage of the 
well-known friend of the king ; and between him 
and the Tory a plan was soon concocted by which 
the Senegal was to accompany the sloop and her 
tow back to Falmouth, where under the protec- 
tion of the warship Captain Coulson was to de- 
mand the masts and spars lying in his own yard 
ready to be placed on the new vessel. 

It was Sam Green who informed me of these 
facts when we were alone on the bow of the John 
and Mary, and then he said : 

‘‘We won’t sail for two or three days yet, an’ ye 
must find some way to send word home. They’ll 
have time to get those sticks out of the ole man’s 
reach ’fore he gets there.” 

“ Look here, Sam ! ” I exclaimed, stung a little 
by his word must, “ why don’t you do it your- 
self ? ” 

“Cause I can’t write,” he replied shuffling 
away. 

I thought the matter over. A post left for Fal- 
mouth the next morning, and a letter forwarded 
by that to Colonel Freeman would do the work ; 
but how could I write and mail that letter ? 

The first part of the problem was solved by my 
finding all necessary materials in my berth at the 
end of our dogwatch. Before we were called at 


CAPTAIN COULSON IS TWICE BAFFLED. 165 

midnight I had the missive ready, and, remem- 
bering that Sam had a boat at the how for me on 
the night of my previous trip, I went directly 
there when I reached the deck. The yawl was 
not there, and, disappointed, I waited not know- 
ing what to do. 

Gimme the letter, Ben,” a voice soon said. I 
turned and there was Sam beside me, stripped of 
his clothing. 

‘‘ITl swim for it,” he explained. 

I handed the missive to him, and then noticed 
for the first time that he carried a bucket in 
which he had packed the garments he had taken 
off. Stowing the paper in the pail with his ap- 
parel, he swung lightly over the rail, and disap- 
peared in the darkness. 

I was nervous all the while he was gone lest 
his absence should be discovered, but the officer 
of the deck did not come forward, and I answered 
all his calls without his suspecting I was alone on 
the bow. 

In two hours the old sailor was back, and, 
mounting the deck, dressed himself as calmly as 
though going on shore at midnight was a part 
of his regular duty. 

To my inquiry as to his trip his only reply was : 
^‘1 got there.” 


166 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


A few days later we followed the British cutter 
out of^ the harbor and up the coast to Falmouth, 
where we anchored under the protection of her 
guns. My first glance, after our sails were 
furled, was off towards Captain Coulson’s ship- 
yard. That glance told me my message had 
reached the Town Committee, for not a spar was 
in sight. They had been towed, as I afterwards 
learned, up the Presumpscot river where the 
Tory could not get them. 

The Captain noticed the disappearance of his 
timbers as quickly as I did, and, hurirying over 
to the Senegal, he requested Lieutenant Dud- 
dington to send a messenger on shore demanding 
his property. The answer which came back was 
short but decisive : 

An order has been issued by the Provincial 
Congress that Captain Coulson shall not be 
allowed to remove his effects from the town.” 


CHAPTER XL 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 

Captain Coulson was standing on the quarter- 
deck of the John and Mary when the message 
was delivered to him and, knowing his irascible 
nature, I looked for an outburst of temper which 
would make the air foul with its imprecations, if 
it did not assume a more violent form. But to 
my astonishment he did not utter a word, though 
he strode over to the railing nearest the village 
and shook his clenched fist towards it vigorously. 
It was some time before I realized that he was so 
angry he could not speak ; but when he turned 
his face so I could see it, the truth dawned upon 
me, for it was the face of a demon I beheld. 
Hatred and rage, malice and revenge, were all 
depicted there ; and I shuddered at the sight. 

Master Ross, who stood nearer the angry man 
than I did, must have experienced something of 
my own feeling, for I saw him turn away as 
though he desired to hide himself from that 
167 


168 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


awful countenance; while every sailor on the 
deck became transfixed before that silent but 
terrible manifestation of wrath. 

At length the Captain spoke, and there was a 
smile on his lips as he uttered the words. 

Master Eoss, turn here ! ” he called out 
sharply. ‘‘Did you ever see a fairer sight?” 
and he swept with his hand the horizon before 
him. 

It was in truth a beautiful picture : the green 
fields, the thriving town, the charming bay, all 
tinged with the rays of the setting sun, made a 
scene an artist would have rejoiced over. 

But when his companion, taking it all in, had 
responded : “ Never, Captain ! ” the Tory went 
on with a vindictiveness no words of mine can 
describe. 

“Well,” he said with a terrible oath, “I will 
not rest until all that is laid in ashes.” 

Then turning to me he remarked q uietly : 

“Ben, I want you to set me over to the cut- 
ter.” 

It took me but a few minutes to do so, and I 
heard him ask Lieutenant Duddington, who 
came to the rail to meet him, if he, in the face 
of the communication sent off by the Town Com- 
mittee, would be willing to bombard the village. 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 169 

‘‘No/’ the officer replied, “My will is good, 
but the orders under which I am sailing would 
hardly w’arrant me to take so radical a step. 1 
am convinced, however, that Admiral Graves 
will furnish you with a fleet for that purpose 
should you lay your grievance before him.” 

“I think so, too,” the Captain replied grimly. 
Then he inquired : 

“ Can you remain in the harbor a few days 
while I make an effort to find my spars ? ” 

“Yes, a week, if you wish,” was the hearty 
reply. 

“ That will do nicely,” his visitor said, return- 
ing to the yawl, and ordering me back to the 
sloop. 

While I was rowing over to the vessel he gave 
me another command. 

“ I want you to go on shore after leaving me. 
Ben, and visit the house. Bring me word how 
they all are there ; and—” here he gazed at me 
sternly, as though to impress me with the fact 
that he was not to be trifled with— “ ascertain if 
you can what the town leaders have done with 
my masts. They cannot be far away, for they 
were too heavy to be carried any great dis- 
tance.” 

Expecting to fulfill only one half of this com- 


170 


A. TORY’S REVENGE. 


mission I pulled over to Preble’s wharf a few 
minutes later, where I landed. As I turned into 
King street I met Enoch Freeman, who said : 

Hello, Ben ! I was on the lookout for you, for I 
thought you might come ashore.” Then lower- 
ing his voice, he continued : ‘^Father wishes to 
see you.” 

I was coming around to see him before I re- 
turned to the vessel,” I responded. Tell him 
he may expect me in about an hour,” and then I 
entered our gate. 

Going around to the kitchen door I frightened 
Jane by my sudden appearance, but received a 
warm welcome as soon as she recovered herself. 

‘‘Mistress and I are all alone,” she informed 
me, “ and you can go right up to her room.” 

1 found the invalid paler and weaker than I had 
ever seen her before ; as I looked at her I could not 
help feeling her days were numbered ; but her 
zeal for the cause was burning as brightly as 
ever. She listened to the story of my voyage 
with the deepest interest, and readily explained 
about Sam Green : 

“He cannot read or write, as he says, but he 
is a true patriot, and has been my trusted spy for 
months. He came on shore with the Captain 
the morning you sailed and I gave him that note 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 171 

for I knew you would need some message to 
cheer you up.” 

Kespecting the order to confiscate the Captain’s 
property she said : 

I have the assurance of the Council that so 
much of it as I need is at my disposal ; hut that 
will not be much, nor will I want it long ; then 
I wish all that remains, together with what I 
have of my own, to go to the aid of the Colonies.” 

Listening to that patient sufferer, and witness- 
ing anew her devotion to the cause, deepened 
the love I already had for it ; and I take the occa- 
sion here to give her full credit for the patriotism 
she inspired in me. If I achieved aught in later 
years for the Colonies which is worth recalling, 
she, and not I, should have the praise for it. 

‘‘ Where is Miss Dora ? ” I ventured to ask, as 
I arose to keep my appointment with Colonel 
Freeman. 

‘‘Learning in some way that the Council was 
about to take action against the Captain and his 
property, she gathered up all the valuables she 
could find and went to Boston. He will find her 
there.” 

At Colonel Freeman’s I was not detained long. 
I assured him Lieutenant Duddington would not 
fire on the town, but purposed to tarry in the 


172 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


harbor a while to give Captain Coulson an oppor- 
tunity to recover his spars. 

‘^He commissioned me to look them up,” I 
added with a merry twinkle in my eye, ‘‘but I 
haven’t found them.” 

“ Tell him,” responded the Colonel quickly, 
“ they are in the Presumpscot river, just above 
the bridge, and let him try to get them if he 
wants to.” 

“You hardly think he’ll succeed then?” I 
remarked with a laugh. 

“I know he won’t,” was the retort, “but you 
needn’t tell him that.” 

Glad that matters had turned so I would appear 
to have discharged my full mission, I went back 
to the John and Mary and reported. 

A few days later there came a rain ; the night 
that followed was dark and stormy ; in the small 
hours a yawl, containing five men, left the sloop, 
and went up the Presumpscot river for a recon- 
noiter. It got as far as the bridge, where it was 
captured with all on board by Captain Samuel 
Noyes and his men, who were on guard there. 

The prisoners were turned over to Captain 
Wentworth Stuart, who took them to Marston’s 
tavern, holding them subject to the order of the 
Town Committee. 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 17 ^ 

This capture placed Captain Coulson in an 
awkward situation. His chief mate and four of 
his best sailors were in the hands of the patriots. 
He could not manage his sloop and her tow with 
his remaining crew. Under the circumstances, 
he sent me to G-eneral Preble, asking on what 
terms the imprisoned men would be released. 

On condition that the British cutter and your 
own vessels immediately leave the harbor,” was 
the reply I carried back. 

When Lieutenant Duddington was consulted, 
he, because he was anxious to continue his cruise, 
said — 

‘‘ Accept these terms now. Captain, but abide 
your time. ‘ It is a long road which has no turn- 
ing.’” 

His advice was followed, and the next day the 
Senegal left for the Penobscot, while the John 
and Mary, with the King George in tow, sailed 
for Boston. 

I think the first impulse that seized me when 
we arrived at our destination was to flee to the 
camp of the patriots, which was in plain sight of 
our anchorage ; while the second was to visit the 
besieged town and send to the friends of the 
cause any tidings I might learn about the Brit- 
ishers. As an actual fact, my experience for the 


174 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


next month was more prosaic. Captain Coulson 
secured masts and spars for his new ship in Greeks 
shipyard, and I was kept busy helping the outrig- 
gers who were employed to fit the craft for sea. 

Closely confined as I was to the vessel, how- 
ever, I was not without two bits of news to cheer 
my heart. One was how gallantly our men had 
fought, a few days before our arrival, on Bunker 
Hill ; and the other was how General George 
Washington, who had been commissioned the 
commander-in-chief of our forces, had arrived 
and established his headquarters at Cambridge. 
Of course the workmen, who were all Tories, 
talked these incidents over from the British stand- 
point, but I heard enough to be confident our sol- 
diers, though finally compelled to retreat through 
their lack of ammunition, had given the redcoats 
a good drubbing, and that the coming of Master 
Washington was not relished by the British 
officers. 

As the rigging of the ship neared its comple- 
tion my duties on board became less arduous, 
and I found time to visit the town and become 
familiar with its streets. Occasionally the Cap- 
tain sent me on an errand to his shipping agents, 
or to the house on Carter Street where Miss Dora 
was boarding. 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 175 

I think it was the very last day of August when 
I was given a package of papers by my employer, 
and directed to carry them to his sister, and bring 
back as speedily as possible a parcel she would 
give me in return. 

Hastening ashore, I started up the street to- 
wards the residence of Miss Dora, wondering 
what were the contents of the bundle I bore, and 
wishing I had some place where I could go and 
make an examination of the papers. 

There may be some news in there of value to 
our commanders,” I soliloquized. 

At that moment I drew near an old building, 
standing a little off from the street, and noticed 
that a feeble old man was just entering its door. 
He made two or three efforts to lift his feet above 
the sill, and then stumbled and fell. Then he 
lay there, groaning heavily. 

Slipping my parcel into my bosom, and button- 
ing my shirt over it, I ran into the yard, and 
stooped down over the fallen man. 

Are you much hurt, sir ? ” I asked. 

He opened his eyes, and, gazing at me steadily 
a moment, said, with apparent difficulty : 

I fear I am, my lad. Could you help me into 
the house ? I live here all alone, and there is no 
one I can call to my aid.” 


176 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Certainly, sir,” I replied. 

With my help he got up, still groaning as 
though the effort caused him great pain. Then 
we made our way slowly, for 1 had almost to 
carry him, into the rickety building, and up a 
narrow stairway to a rear room where he dwelt. 

I am not able to hire but this one room,” he 
explained in jerky sentences, “and as you see 
have little in it. That is my only bed — ” pointing 
towards a bundle of straw in one corner on which 
an old quilt was spread — “ will you kindly help 
me on to it ? ” 

Willingly I complied with his request, saying 
as I did so : 

“Had I not better call a physician, sir? You 
seem badly hurt.” 

“Yes,” he answered feebly; “go for Doctor 
Tucker on the next street. He knows me and 
will come though I have no money to pay him.” 
I started towards the door, but had not reached it 
when he called out like one who was fast sinking : 

“Wait, lad! I may die before you return. 
Close and fasten the door. I have a secret I 
must make known ere I die.” 

More startled at the thought that the man 
might die while I was there alone with him, than 
surprised that he had some secret to reveal, I 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 177 

closed the door and secured it with'a huge wooden 
bar that stood near by. Then I went over to the 
rude bed. The old gentleman sat upright the 
instant I reached him, and laughed aloud. 

“ Don’t you know me, Ben ? ” he asked, the next 
moment, in a strong, hearty tone. 

As he spoke he threw off wig and false beard, 
revealing to my astonishment, but delight, the 
well-known features of John Weston. 

There is no time for lengthy explanations,” 
he went on. I am here as a spy for the 
patriot army, and have reason to believe that 
that package you are carrying has important in- 
formation in it. Let me examine it before you 
take it to Miss Dora.” 

Without a word I took the parcel from my 
bosom and handed it to him. Quickly undoing 
it, he ran over its contents. There were several 
legal documents conveying certain properties of 
the Captain to his sister, evidently an effort on 
his part to save them from confiscation ; also a 
schedule of personal investments with parties 
supposed to he friendly to the cause of liberty, 
(but who were in reality secret minions of the 
king), and which in case anything happened to 
the Captain were to be passed over to Miss Dora, 
Concerning these Master Weston said : 


178 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘I will make a list of them, and perhaps our 
leaders may find a way to turn them to the ac- 
count of the colonies.” 

Then he took up the last paper, a note to Miss 
Dora from her brother, and read it through, ex- 
claiming as he finished : 

This is what I was looking for ! T knew that 
the British commander-in-chief received impor- 
tant news from the other side yesterday, and I 
was certain if Captain Coulson learned of it he 
would acquaint his sister with the fact. Here it 
is : ^ General Gage is to be recalled, and General 

Howe advanced to his place. I am sorry, for 
Howe is not over half-hearted in his work, and 
will try to conciliate the rebels.’ 

I will see that General Washington has that 
information at once,” John continued. He then 
deftly wrapped up the parcel and gave it back to 
me. ‘‘Qo on to the house, Ben,” he directed, 
‘‘but stop here on your return with any papers 
you may have received. We may find some- 
thing in them of value to the cause.” 

Promising to do so, I hastened away, fairly 
running the rest of the way to Carter Street, in 
order to make up for the time I had lost in my 
interview with my old acquaintance. 

Miss Dora was not in on my arrival at the 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 179 

house, and I waited some time for her coming, 
glad I could have so reasonable an excuse for the 
long while I was about my errand. She kept me 
fully a half hour after she came, and then gave 
me a small sealed package for her brother. 

Chagrined that Master Weston would not have 
the opportunity to examine its contents, I stopped 
for a moment at his room to tell him of my dis- 
appointment. 

“ Let me see the parcel ! ” was his reply, and I 
gave it to him. 

‘^Oh! I can open that easily,” he declared, 
when he had looked at the seal. Then he lighted 
a candle, and, softening the wax over it a trifle, 
pried it off of the wrapper without injury. 

There was only a single letter within, but it 
was quite long, and it took John some time to 
read it. 

‘‘There are two or three items of interest in 
it,” he remarked as he folded the missive and re- 
sealed it with a skill which would leave no sus- 
picion that it had been opened. ‘^She has heard 
from Falmouth, and tells Captain Coulson that 
the people there think they have seen the last of 
him, but adds: ‘ You and I know better.’ Then 
she speaks of Captain Mowatt, who is now 
in Narragansett Bay with his vessel. ‘He will 


180 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


not be ordered back to Boston before October/ 
she explains, ‘ but has assured me he will help 
you to carry out your plan of revenge on his 
return.’ What can that mean, Ben ? ” 

“ He intends to destroy Falmouth,” I replied, 
telling him of the great oath the Tory had taken 
in that harbor when he found he could not have 
his property. 

‘^That is clearly what Miss Dora refers to,” he 
mused. ‘‘I always said she was as bad as her 
brother. The idea of a woman gloating over the 
destruction of a town, and the misery and suf- 
fering it will bring to the people ! Can anything 
be more monstrous ? Never mind, when in the 
patriot lines I will see that the authorities at 
Falmouth are duly warned of the Captain’s pur- 
pose. But I will keep you no longer. Eun in 
here whenever you have messages between the 
Captain and Miss Dora, but never know the old 
man you may see hobbling along the streets. I’m 
‘ Crazy Jerry ’ then. Good-bye ! ” 

‘‘Good-bye!” I answered and ran down the 
steps of the old building, exulting that once more 
I had helped along the cause so dear to my heart. 
Eeaching the dock I rowed rapidly off to the ship 
in whose cabin I found the captain and delivered 
my package to him. 


IN WHICH I MEET TWO OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 181 

‘‘You were gone a long time,” he said pleas- 
antly, but there was a glitter in his eye I did not 
understand. 

“I had to wait a long time for Miss Dora,” I 
replied meekly. 

“You are sure you did not stop anywhere on 
the way ? ” he cried, and again that strange flash 
came into his eyes. 

It was a chance shot, as I now know, but then 
the pointed question, touching so directly on the 
actual fact, confused me, and I stood there unable 
to answer a word. 

Apparently delighted at my embarrassment he 
went on sarcastically : 

“ I have a friend who desires to see you.” 

At those words the door of the nearest state- 
room opened, and to my surprise and alarm Mid- 
shipman Gay came out. 


CHAPTER XII. 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 

How are you, Ben V’ he asked. I told 3^ou 
I should know you when I saw you again.” 

Still I was silent, for I realized I was at last in 
a place where even the most positive denial that 
I was a friend of the colonies would not avail me. 

‘‘This officer tells me that you were one of 
the principals in his capture at Falmouth, and 
appeared to be in the service of the rebels. What 
have you to say for yourself ? ” thundered Cap- 
tain Coulson the next minute, and striking his 
fist on the cabin table with a force that made the 
whole vessel tremble. 

Then I found my voice. 

“He tells you the truth,” I said. “I have 
been in their service from the day I came to your 
house, and I am in their service now.” 

Having made this confession, I darted up the 
stairs to the deck, ran to the nearest railing, and 
sprang overboard. 

I had been delayed so long in the town it was 
182 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 183 

after sunset when I reached the King George. 
During my few minutes’ sojourn in her cabin 
the shadows of the coming night had deepened, 
and I was confident, as I plunged overboard, 
that, if I could elude my pursuers for a short 
time, I might make good my escape under the 
cover of the darkness. 

With this thought in mind, I did not immedi- ^ 
ately rise to the surface of the water, but, chang- 
ing my course under it, swam around the ship’s 
bow, and along her starboard side to her rudder. 
Here I raised my head enough to breathe, but 
kept it so close to the dark hull of the craft it 
would have been difficult to have detected it a 
rod away. 

I could hear the shouts on deck ; the manning 
of the yawl in which I had come ; and the dash 
away towards the shore, doubtless with the inten- 
tion of intercepting me when I came to the sur- 
face. But the whole search was conducted, as I 
had hoped it would be, from the larboard side of 
the vessel. Possibly some one may have thought 
to glance over the starboard rail, but, if so, the 
overhanging stern concealed me from his view. 

Slowly the moments went by. At first I kept 
myself at the surface of the water by clinging to 
the rudder with my hands ; after a while, how- 


184 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


ever, this grew irksome, and I looked around for 
some less fatiguing method of keeping afloat. 
Soon I hit upon a device so simple I wondered 
that I had been so long in thinking of it. I un- 
fastened my belt, and passin'g it over the pintle 
above my head, rebuckled it. Then I swung my 
arms through the loop, and found it an easy and 
effective support. 

A half hour elapsed, but the boat that was 
looking for me did not return. It was dark 
enough now to make the effort to reach the 
shore, and yet I hesitated. Would it be safe to 
do so before my pursuers returned ? 

While I hesitated I heard the sound of oars. 
A moment later the yawl came alongside, and I 
heard Midshipman Gay, who was in charge of it, 
say : 

‘‘We have found no trace of the youngster, 
and are confldent he has not yet landed. Have 
you made any search along the hull ? He may 
have doubled on us, and been waiting around 
here until it was dark enough to conceal his 
movements.” 

“ I never thought of that,” exclaimed Captain 
Coulson, and his tone showed his disgust at his 
oversight. 

“Well, it is the first thing I should have 


■i 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 185 

thought of,” retorted the redcoat scornfully. ‘‘ I 
took it for granted you would make a search 
here. I will take a look along the sides, but it is 
likely we shall find our bird has fiown.” 

His surmise was a correct one, for pulling my 
arms out of the belt, I sank noiselessly beneath 
the water, and swam rapidly down the harbor. 
Not until I was beyond the reach of the sharpest 
eyes did I venture to the surface for breath, and 
then only for an instant. Dropping again be- 
neath the friendly covering, I directed my course 
gradually towards the shore. Eising as often as 
I needed air, but never remaining long at the 
surface, I at length reached Eowe’s wharf, under 
which I crawled, nearly exhausted. 

It was low tide, and groping along in the dark- 
ness I was soon above the water line. Here I 
removed my clothing, and wrung it out ; then, 
replacing the garments, I crouched there, ponder- 
ing over what course to pursue. 

• I had but one friend in the town, John Weston, 
or ^ Crazy Jerry’ as he was best known. Would 
it not be wisest to make my way to his house 
during the night, and consult with him ? He 
could tell me how to get through the British 
lines to the Continental camp, where I would be 
safe. 


186 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


I quickly decided on this course, but waited un- 
til I thought it was after midnight before I at- 
tempted to carry it out. Then, creeping out of 
my hiding-place, I hastened through the deserted 
streets towards the old dwelling. Twice I avoided 
the night patrol by slipping into the shadow of 
some adjacent building, and reached my des- 
tination without challenge. 

Looking furtively about me to make sure I was 
unseen, I tried the outer door. It yielded to my 
touch, and cautiously I entered the structure. 
How dark and lonesome it seemed as I stood 
there in the narrow entry ! How loud to my ex- 
cited nerves even the soft tread of my feet 
sounded ! Would John hear me, and, thinking 
me some unfriendly intruder, strike me down in 
the darkness ? 

Keady to make known my identity the moment 
I knew I was discovered, I advanced up the creak- 
ing stairway to my friend’s room. The door was 
closed, and not for a moment doubting it was 
barred, I tapped gently upon it. There was no 
response, and I knocked a little louder. Still 
there was no movement within. Then I rapped 
loud enough, it seemed to me, to awaken the 
soundest sleeper, but no one answered me. 

Can he have gone ? ” I questioned of myself, 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 187 

and placing my hand on the latch. It lifted, and 
the door under a gentle push swung open. 

It was too dark to distinguish a single thing 
in the room, but I felt my way along to the rude 
bed, and placed my hand upon it. It was empty ; 
and like a flash it came to me that Master Weston 
had, as he intimated to me in the afternoon he 
was going to do, undertaken a visit to the patriot 
lines. 

‘‘He will be back to-morrow night,” I solilo- 
quized, “and 1 am as safe here as anywhere. I 
will wait his coming ; ” then, removing my damp 
clothing and spreading it over the one chair 
the room contained, I wrapped myself in the 
old quilt, and went to sleep. 

I slept far into the morning, for the sun was 
high in the heavens when I awoke. Leaping up 
with a start, I examined my clothing to And it 
still too damp to put on. So, making a skirt of 
the old covering, I looked around the room, hop- 
ing to discover something to eat. A box fastened 
to the walls in an opposite corner, and fltted with 
a lid, attracted my attention. Going over to it, 
I raised the cover, and was delighted to behold a 
half loaf of bread and a part of a boiled ham. 

“ Evidently this is John’s larder,” I commented, 
as I appropriated a generous portion of the 


188 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


articles to my pressing need. I made a hearty 
meal, and washed it down with a draught of 
water from the pail which sat beneath the rude 
cupboard. 

By placing my garments where the sunbeams 
fell upon them, I soon dried them, and re- clothed 
myself. Then I explored the dilapidated dwell- 
ing, finding every room empty, except the one 
Master Weston occupied. 

The day, though a long one to me from my en- 
forced inactivity, passed without incident of any 
kind. At nightfall I moved my quarters to the 
chamber directly opposite my friend’s, for I 
deemed it wiser for him on his coming to find his 
own room undisturbed. Once he was in it, I 
could make my presence in the building known. 

On the bare fioor of the apartment I had se- 
lected, I at an early hour stretched myself, and, 
hard as my bed was, slept soundly until I heard 
the tread of Master Weston on the stairs. Wait- 
ing only for him to get fairly into his own room, 
I crossed the narrow entry, and knocked gently 
on the door, saying in a low tone as I did so : 

^^It is I, Ben Mathews.” 

‘‘Come in,” he replied heartily, throwing open 
the door. “ How came you here ? ” 

“I have been waiting for you twenty-four 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 189 

hours,” I answered ; then I told him of my re- 
ception at the ship on the afternoon I had parted 
with him, and my subsequent adventures. 

You did one foolish thing, Ben,” he remarked 
frankly when my tale was finished. Never 
admit to the enemy that you are in the service 
of the colonies. Throw the whole burden of 
proof on to them, and often you will find they 
don’t know as much as they claim to. Howsome- 
ever the main question is how to get you out of 
their clutches.” 

He was silent for a few minutes, and then con- 
tinued : 

‘^Doubtless Captain Coulson has reported your 
escape to the British headquarters, and every 
patrol on land and sea will be on the lookout for 
you. I reckon the best plan will be to keep you 
right here until they have given up looking for 
you, then we’ll run you through the lines. Now, 
we’ll have something to eat.” 

“I have cleaned you out, John,” I exclaimed 
regretfully, for it occurred to me that he might 
have been some hours without food. 

I’m glad you did,” he responded cheerfully, 

it might have spoiled if you hadn’t. I can get 
more in the morning. Let us turn in ; you are 
welcome to half of my bed.” 


190 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Barring the door, and removing his wig and 
false beard he threw himself down on the quilt. 
I lay down beside him, and we were soon fast 
asleep. 

A week of close confinement on my part now 
followed. Master Weston, however, went forth 
daily in his disguise, procuring what food we 
needed, and seeking for any news that might be 
of value to our leaders. 

On the eighth day there was a marked change 
in the weather ; dark clouds covered the sky ; a 
damp wind, constantly increasing, set in from 
the sea ; it was clear that a storm was immi- 
nent. 

‘‘We are to have a hard night,” John declared 
as we were eating our frugal dinner ; “ just the 
kind of a night to run the lines of the redcoats. 
I also have several items of news to report to 
General Washington, so if you are ready we’ll 
^ undertake to get through before morning.” 

“I am more than ready,” I replied. “I have 
stood this imprisonment as long as I care to.” 

“ There might be a worse one,” was his answer, 
“ but it will soon be over now. I’ll go out on the 
streets for a few hours, and see if I can pick up 
any additional items of information ; by dark, 
however. I’ll return, and if the storm is upon us 



“ Blow out that light quick ! ” said Master Weston, “ I have 
been discovered.” Page 191. A Tory's Revenge 




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IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 191 

we can begin our trip right away. Few will care 
to face such a tempest as we are going to have, 
and so we shall run little risk of being dis- 
covered.” 

An hour later he went out ; before four o’clock 
it was raining hard ; at six the gale was terrific ; 
and yet Master Weston did not return. I began 
to grow anxious. Had any mishap befallen him ? 
Walking through the rooms of the old mansion, 
which shook and creaked under the violent wind, 
I peered out of every window, hoping to catch 
some glimpse of him on his return. 

It soon became too dark to see a dozen feet 
away, and I had about concluded to venture out 
on the streets in search of John, when I heard him 
enter the outer door. 

Hastily lighting our one candle I hastened into 
the entry to find him already at the top of the 
* stairs, his hat and false beard gone, his clothing 
drenched and torn, his whole appearance that of 
one who had been having a fearful struggle. 

Blow out that light ! ” was his quick command. 
‘‘I have been discovered, and we must not stop 
here a moment. I should not have returned here 
at all but to save you from the redcoats, who will 
surely search the place. Do you know where 
Wind Mill Point is ? ” 


192 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘Yes,” I answered, having already extin- 
guished the candle. 

“ Well, go below, drop out of a back window, 
and make your way there as rapidly as possible. 
Conceal yourself in that huge pile of lumber 
which faces Dorchester, and wait my coming,” 
and he went on into his chamber. 

I ran down the stairs, threw up a rear win- 
dow, and clambered out. In an instant the rain 
drenched me ; the wind nearly took my breath ; 
but I pushed on, crossing yards, and avoiding the 
streets, where I could, and at length reached the 
Point. 

It took me a few minutes, owing to the thick 
darkness, to locate the lumber pile John had 
mentioned, but on finding it I went around to 
the lee side and, pulling some of the boards down 
so as to make a rude shelter, crawled into it. 

I lay there all of two hours before Master 
Weston arrived, and glad enough was I to see 
him. 

“You escaped them ! ” I exclaimed exultingly, 
as he crept into the rude shelter beside me. 

“ I have so far,” he replied. Then he told me 
that his long delay was due to his attempt to com- 
municate with a friend of the cause named Israel 
Vaughn. 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. 193 

He has a boat concealed somewhere in this 
lumber yard,’’ he explained, and will soon be here 
to show us where it is. We did not dare to come 
down here together.” 

While we waited he made known his plan for 
our escape. 

I did not think it safe to go by my old route, 
lest I should find it was known and watched. 
This one is all new to me, but Israel is sure we 
can work it safely under the cover of the storm. 
Launching the yawl here we will row straight 
across to Hook’s Hill, and then along under the 
lee shore to Dorchester Heck, where we can enter 
General Ward’s lines.” *■ 

^‘Itis no great distance across,” I remarked, 

hut it means a great deal to us. I wish we were 
there now.” 

We had been talking in tones scarcely audible 
to ourselves. Imagine then, if you can, our con- 
sternation when a pair of hands were thrust under 
the boards, catching me by the shoulder, while a 
voice said : 

‘‘We’d rather you would be right here, my 
hearties.” 

* General Artemas Ward, who was second in command 
under Washington, and who was in charge of the right wing 
in the siege of Boston. — Editor, 


194 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


At the same instant another pair of hands 
reached in from the other side of the rude lean-to 
and grabbed at my comrade’s throat. Springing 
to his feet, he dashed away the boards in front of 
him, and disappeared in the darkness, chased by 
at least a half dozen redcoats. 

Struggle as I would, however, I could not throw 
off my captor. 

‘‘It’s no use, lad,” he cried, clutching me more 
firmly. “ Tim Fisher usually holds all he puts 
his paws on to.” 

But I persisted in my efforts to get away, until 
he, out of all patience with me, threw me face 
down on the ground, and sat down upon me. 

“ I usually weigh two hundred and fifty,” he 
chuckled, “ but when I’m mad I weigh a ton, and 
you might as well try to lift a mountain.” 

I soon came to the same conclusion, and gave 
up, saying : 

“ I’ll promise not to try to escape.” 

“Suit yourself, youngster, and you suit me,” 
he responded, rising to his feet. 

We waited there a half hour for the return of 
his comrades, who, to my joy, came without 
Master Weston. Then I was taken over to the 
South Battery, where the squad who had cap- 
tured me belonged, and put into the guardhouse. 


IN WHICH I AM PUT INTO THE BRIDEWELL. I95 

The next morning I was taken before the com- 
mander of the station, who, looking me over 
sharply, asked : 

‘‘Why were you and your comrade seeking to 
cross over into the rebel lines last night ? ” 

“We were tired of being penned up here,” I 
responded, “ and thought it no crime to get 
away.” 

“ Did you not have some message for the rebel 
general ? ” 

“No, sir, I did not,” I replied boldly. 

“How about your companion ? ” 

“ He must speak for himself.” 

Biting his lips a moment to conceal his annoy- 
ance, the officer inquired : 

“Who are you ? ” 

“Benjamin Mathews.” 

He consulted a paper lying on the table before 
him. 

“Ah ! the lad who escaped from Captain Coul- 
son ? ” 

“I made no reply, as I thought none necessary ; 
and evidently he did not, for he immediately 
questioned : 

“And who was your companion ?” 

“ I have nothing to say,” was my answer. 

“Was he not the man who has been known 


196 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


about town as ‘Crazy Jerry’?” he queried sig- 
nificantly. 

I was silent. 

“Here,” he said to a subaltern who stood near 
him, “take this fellow up to the Bridewell where 
he will be safe until I can report his case to his 
excellency.” 

The orderly disappeared, to return in a moment 
with the same squad that had captured me, and, 
guarded by it, I was marched up King Street, 
then past the Burying Place to the gloomy prison 
in which so many of our brave men were already 
languishing. 

My heart sank like lead within me as its heavy 
door closed upon me, for I knew there was little 
hope of escape to any who entered there. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


IN WHICH I BECOME A MEMBER OP THE BRITISH 
FLEET. 

Owing to the crowded condition of the prison 
I was thrust into a cell, originally intended for 
a single person, hut already occupied by three. 
Two of these were men whose long, unkempt locks, 
and thin and pallid faces, told of a long confine- 
ment within those damp walls ; while the other 
was evidently, like myself, a recent arrival there, 
and the moment I glanced at him I knew I had 
seen him before. He was Master Ezekiel Good- 
year, who had accompanied Captain Coulson to 
Brunswick that day I first met the Tory. 

Having recognized him so readily, I did not 
think but that he would remember me, and so 
held out my hand, as he and his companions 
crowded about me, saying : 

‘‘How are you. Master Goodyear? I did not 
expect to see you here.” 

He looked me over in evident surprise, and 
then, shaking his head, replied : 

197 


198 


A TORY'S REVENGE. 


I give it up, lad. I can’t place ye.” 

‘‘I am Ben Mathews, of Brunswick,” I ex- 
plained. ‘‘You came out to our house with Cap- 
tain Coulsonto tell us of the death of my father.” 
“So I did, youngster. Bless ye, how ye’ve 
grown ! An’ to think we should both fetch up 
here ! Ye must tell me how it came ’bout, 
an’ I’ll spin ye my yarn. Fust, though, Zeke 
Goodyear mustn’t forget his manners. This ’s 
Joseph Bailey, an’ that ’s Daniel Knight. They 
ain’t very hansum, but I wish I had their 
grit.” 

I understood what he meant by the first words 
those two men spoke to me. As I put out my 
hand towards them in acknowledgment of 
Master Goodyear’s crude introduction, they cried 
simultaneously : 

“ Tell us, lad, are there any new tidings of the 
cause ? ” 

“You have heard of the battle of Bunker’s 
Hill, and the coming of General Washington?” 
I questioned. 

“Yes,” they responded, “ Master Goodyear told 
us about them.” 

“ Then the only new item of information I can 
give you,” I went on, “ is this : General Gage is 
soon to be removed from his position as Com- 


I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 199 

mander-in-chief of the British forces and General 
Howe is to he put in his place.” 

Thank God for that ! ” they exclaimed rev- 
erently ; ‘4t may mean our release if we can 
secure a hearing.” 

Then I learned that they had been thrown into 
prison more than twelve months before because 
they had boldly denounced General Gage’s en- 
forcement of the Port Act. Offered their liberty 
again and again if they would only take the oath 
of allegiance to the king, they had steadfastly 
refused, preferring to die there in the jail rather 
than prove false to the cause they loved. Their 
patient and heroic endurance of the scanty prison 
fare and the unhealthy condition of their dun- 
geon, after those long months of confinement, 
shut my own lips against all complaint during the 
weeks I was called to share their cell. 

There was a single stool in the room, and, plac- 
ing me on that, as a sort of throne of honor, my 
comrades listened to my tale. I related only 
enough for them to understand that I had been in 
the secret service of the patriots through the long 
months I was at work for Captain Coulson, and 
now, detected and captured, I was in the Bride- 
well for safe- keeping until the British commander 
decided my fate. 


200 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


want to know if ye’ve ben a workin’ for the 
ole man ever sence I saw ye before ? ” Master 
Goodyear remarked when my recital was over. 
‘‘Waal, I reckon ye know by this time what sort 
of a critt’r he is.” 

“I know him well enough to believe their 
isn’t but one good act to his credit in all his life,” 
I retorted with some bitterness. 

“ Gosh ! I didn’t ’spose thar was one,” ejacu- 
lated Ezekiel in amazement. “ What was it ? ” 

“ He paid my mother double the wages due my 
father,” I answered. 

“How much did he give her ? ” the sailor per- 
sisted. 

“Two pounds,” I replied, “and, as by your 
own tell, Master Goodyear, my father fell over- 
board when only two weeks out, you can see that 
the Captain for once did a generous thing, though 
I admit he’s more than made it up since.” 

“I don’t see it,” he declared. “Your father 
was two weeks out on his way home, an’ as we’d 
ben six weeks in Liverpool, besides the vo3^age 
over, the ole man didn’t give ye half pay. I 
’spishuned it, for I never knew the Capt’n to pay 
a dollar he could get rid of, ’speshully if ’twas due 
a patriot, as your pa was.” 

Nothing in all the Captain’s dealings with me 


I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 201 

had ever made me so angry as I was then. That 
he, in the hour when my mother’s heart was bleed- 
ing with sorrow, had deliberately cheated her out 
of what was her due, pretending all the while 
to be her friend and to deal generously with her, 
seemed to me to be a degree of perfidy beside 
which all of his subsequent acts sank into insig- 
nificance. The moment I could find my voice I 
said, and I meant it : 

“If I live, and he lives, he shall yet pay me 
every dollar due nay father.” 

“I don’t blame ye for sayin’ it, lad,” Master 
Goodyear remarked, “an’ I hope ye’ll get it. 
But now I’d better spin my yarn.” 

Beginning with his return to Falmouth along 
with Captain Coulson, he told of a voyage to 
England, and then down to the coast of Africa, 
where he had been shipwrecked. Picked up by 
a French vessel he had at length landed at Calais, 
whence he made his way across the channel to 
Dover. Destitute, and ignorant of the real state 
of affairs in the colonies, he enlisted in the British 
navy, and was assigned to the warship Cat, bound 
for Boston. 

“I hadn’t ben on the craft an hour,” he went 
on to say, “ ’fore I heerd of the fightin’ that was 
goin’ on over here, an’ knowin’ I was on the 


202 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


wrong side, desarted. They ketched me, an’ put 
me into the ship’s brig till we sailed. Soon as we 
sighted East Point on this side I tried the same 
trick, but was ketched agin, an’ sent down to the 
pen. Stayin’ thar grew tiresum, an’ so I tore up 
my shirt and started a fire under the door. When 
they saw the smoke they pulled me out in a jiffy, 
an’ took me ’fore the Capt’n. He’d got a notion 
by that time that I was a spy, an’ had ben burnin’ 
up valooble papers lest wise they should be found. 
So he ups an’ sends me to the Gen’ral, who was 
mad ’cause I wouldn’t own up, an’ clapped me in 
here ’til I Harned sense,’ as he expressed it, an’ 
here I be.” 

I had something of the same experience when 
on the next day I was taken before General Gage. 
He asked me nothing about myself, perhaps be- 
cause he knew all about me from Captain Coulson, 
but tried to learn from me who my companion, 
on the night I had been captured, was. 1 refused 
to give him any information on that point, and 
vexed at my obstinacy he finally sent me back to 
the Bridewell with the unpleasant admonition : 

‘‘I’ll give you a. week to find sense enough to 
save your own life by telling me who that fellow 
was that escaped us. If you don’t do it in that 
time, you shall hang in his place.” 


I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 203 

I talked the matter over with my companions 
on my return to the jail, and they were unani- 
mous in their opinion that I ought to disclose 
Master Weston’s identity to save my own life. 

‘‘ He has made good his escape, and to tell who 
he is can be of little value to the enemy,” Master 
Bailey said. 

Put in a bid for your liberty as well as your 
life,” advised Master Knight. ‘‘ The Britisher 
may give you both for an item of information that 
won’t be worth a farthing to him after he gets it.” 

I waited, therefore, quite complacently for the 
allotted time to pass away. But the week went 
by ; the next followed ; the month ran out ; and 
still I was not sent for. No news of what was 
transpiring reached us within those prison walls. 
Had we known that General Gage was already 
superseded by General Howe I think we all should 
have taken new heart.* Ignorant as we were of 
events, therefore, it seemed like a ray of sunlight 
breaking instantaneously through heavy clouds 
when one bright October morning our cell door 
was thrown open, and a British officer stood there 
with a roll of paper in his hand. 

‘‘ Joseph Bailey and Daniel Knight,” he called 
out. 

* This occurred about October 1st, 1775 . — Editor 


2C4 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Trembling all over in their excitement at the 
unusual circumstance, and wondering whether 
the summons meant good or evil, my comrades 
hastened forward and responded to their names. 

‘‘You are discharged,” he said brusquely, and 
motioning them out into the corridor where a 
turnkey was waiting who conducted them away. 

“ Ezekiel Goodyear,” the redcoat read off 
next. 

“ Here I be,” the old sailor responded, step- 
ping forward with hope depicted on his rugged 
face. 

“You are ordered back to your vessel to serve 
out the time of your enlistment,” was the an- 
nouncement, and a file of soldiers appeared and 
marched him down the narrow passage towards 
the street door. 

“Benjamin Mathews,” the major now called, 
referring for the third time to the paper he held. 

“Here, sir,” I answered, though I had given 
up all hope of release since I heard Master Good- 
year’s sentence. 

“You are sent back to the service of Captain 
Coulson,” the Britisher declared, and I was given 
into the charge of Midshipman Gay (though he 
now wore the uniform of a lieutenant), who to 
my surprise was waiting outside with a squad of 


1 13EC0ME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 20^ 

marines, and he took me off to the King George, 
from which I had escaped six weeks before. 

Before I reached the vessel, however, I became 
aware of the transformation she had undergone 
during my absence. Heavy bulwarks had been 
added ; fourteen swivels and a bow chaser 
mounted ; her crew increased to fully four score ; 
while officers and men, from Captain Coulson 
down, were in the garb of the British navy. She 
was a full-fledged ship of war. 

On boarding her I was taken down below, where 
my filthy garments were removed, my long hair 
cropped, a rough but thorough scrubbing admin- 
istered, and the complete outfit of a common 
sailor furnished me. Then I was led back to the 
deck and amidships, where an officer gave me a 
rating and assigned my mess ; then I was sent 
forward. 

The first person I met on the forecastle was 
Sam Green. 

glad to see ye, Ben,” he said in a low 
tone, “even if ye be a member of a British fleet,” 
and he looked at me quizzically. 

“Of a British fleet?” I queried, glancing 
around me. 

“Yes,” he replied. “See yonder craft? Ye 
ought to know her,” and he pointed towards a 


^06 


A TORY’S REVENGE* 


vessel anchored two cable-lengths away on our 
right. 

‘‘ It is the Canseau ! ” I exclaimed the next 
instant. 

‘‘Yes,” he assented, “an’ she’s our flag-ship, 
has now twenty guns an’ a crew of a hundred 
an’ fifty. Captain Mowatt, commander ; that’s 
one. Then thar’s the Cat, eighteen guns an’ a 
hundred an’ twenty men ; she’s number two,” 
and he motioned off towards the left. 

I looked in that direction with more than 
ordinary interest, for I thought immediately of 
Master Goodyear, who must be already on board 
of her ; and there she was a hundred fathoms 
away, her deck, like our own, thronging with 
sailors. 

“We are number three, fifteen guns an’ a 
hundred men,” Sam went on ; “ an’ back yonder 
are the Eoger and the Spry,” and he directed my 
attention towards a schooner and a sloop farther 
up the harbor; “one has ten guns an’ eighty 
men, while t’other has seven guns an’ fifty men. 
That’s the fleet, an’ we are only waitin’ for the 
signal to sail.” 

Before I could ask him our destination, a flag 
was run up the mast of the Canseau, and in- 
stantly on the five vessels Master Green had 


I BECOME A MEMBER OP THE BRITISH FLEET. 207 

pointed out all was life and motion. Anchors 
were hoisted, sails were unfurled, and soon, with 
the Canseau in the lead, the fleet was standing 
down the bay. 

When we were well under way I received a 
summons to the cabin, and in a few minutes was 
face to face with Captain Coulson. He was ex- 
ceedingly good-natured, and, judging from pre- 
vious experiences, I at once decided that he had 
some special purpose in this interview. 

‘‘Well, Ben,” he began with a grin, “here 
you are, back where you started from.” 

“Yes, sir,” I admitted. 

“ How did you like your quarters in the Bride- 
well ? ” he next questioned. 

“I have seen better,” I replied shortly. 

“But it was better than hanging,” he sug- 
gested meaningly. 

“I never tried that,” I retorted. 

“But you came mighty near it,” he answered, 
as though he relished the thought, “and the 
fact is the death sentence still hangs over you. It 
is only suspended at my request,” and he stopped 
to note the effect of his words. 

I thought it was just as likely that he was lying 
as telling the truth, and so showed no apprehen- 
sion at his statement. 


208 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Yes,” he continued with emphasis, ^^itis as 
I tell you. I got General Howe to postpone the 
execution, and send 3"ou on board for this trip. 
I presume you know where we are going.” 

Instantly it came to me that we were bound for 
Falmouth to carry out the Tory’s revenge, so I 
replied : 

‘‘I can make a good guess and as I said it 
there arose before me a picture of the five vessels 
of the fleet gathered in Falmouth harbor with 
their seventy cannon and five hundred men, and 
I knew the town was doomed. 

As though he divined my thoughts the Captain 
laughed aloud. 

‘‘ The man or men who dare to thwart Samuel 
Coulson’s purposes must pay the penalty,” he 
avowed, and now his tones grew fierce, and his 
eyes flashed with anger. ‘‘ Falmouth will soon 
be laid in ashes, and I intend that you, Ben, shall 
help the work on. That is why I have you here ; 
that is my part of the vengeance on you. With 
your own hands you shall be made to fire the 
cannon, to which you have been assigned, into 
the village. After that you are to be taken on 
shore, and forced to apply the torch to any build- 
ings that may escape the bombarding. I shall 
try to spare Enoch Freeman’s and Jedediah 


I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 209 

Preble’s houses so that you shall kindle the fire 
that consumes them ; and I hope the two rebels 
will themselves perish in the fiames.” 

The intense hate he displayed as he hissed forth 
these words caused me to shudder, and, doubt- 
less, taking my act as an evidence of fear he went 
on : 

‘‘ I say you shall do this, for, mark you ! if you 
don’t, back to Boston you shall go, and be hanged 
as a spy. I have but to report your refusal to 
obey me at headquarters, and the death sentence 
now held in abeyance will be carried out.” 

‘^And what will happen if Ido obey you?” 
I asked. It would be like you to report me as 
disobedient, and have me hanged anyway.” 

‘‘No,” he responded grimly; “there is some- 
thing that is worth more to me than your death : 
it is the power to torment you. Should you obey 
me at Falmouth, I shall spare you until I know 
you have done more injury to the rebels than you 
have to the King ; then I shall rid myself of you. 
You can take your choice between the two fates. 
In either case you will wdsh you had never seen 
Samuel Coulson,” and he glowered at me until 
my blood ran cold in my veins. 

I now knew I had a fiend to deal with. I 
could expect no mercy from him. His delight 


210 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


would be to make my life miserable as long as 1 
could be of use to him ; then he would trample 
me under his feet as though I were only a 
worm. 

In our most desperate straits we are sometimes 
unexpectedly buoyed up. It was so with me now. 
I grew strong as he glared at me. My fears van- 
ished, and in their place came a resolve to defy 
and baffle the Tory. I would still find a way to 
thwart his purposes, and gain the victory over 
him. 

I ceased to tremble, and noticing it, he cried : 

You think to escape me again, but you won’t. 
Every offlcer is specially charged to keep an eye 
on you ; and for every attempt to run away you 
will have a worse hogging than I gave you that 
day you rang the bell in Falmouth,” and he 
smiled as though the recollection was pleasing to 
him. 

I made no answer, and after a moment he 
added : 

“ You can go now.” 

I left the cabin and went back to the forecastle, 
where Sam Green met me. 

The ole man was hard on ye,” he remarked, 
studying my face keenly. 

‘‘Yes,” I assented. 


I BECOME A MEMBER OP THE BRITISH FLEET. 211 

He looked about him, and finding no one near 
enough to hear his words, he continued : 

here, lad, to help ye. Keep yere eye 
open, an’ be ready,” then he walked away. 

It was something to feel that I had one friend on 
the craft, and greatl}^ cheered by that fact I gave 
zealous attention to my duties. The training I 
was now receiving might be of service in our own 
navy as soon as it was formed. So I pulled at 
the ropes, drilled at the guns, and practiced at 
arms, with a zest which led Lieutenant Gay to 
say to me one day when I had particularly pleased 
him : 

‘^It’s a pity you are a confounded rebel,” a re- 
mark which caused my shipmates to stare incred- 
ulously at him. 

Our course was farther out to sea than that 
usually followed by vessels bound for Falmouth, 
and, as I expected, carried us far to the east of 
that harbor. In fact the first land we sighted was 
Damiscove Island, east of the Kennebec. Here 
we anchored, and on the following day a boat 
from each vessel was sent on shore to pillage the 
farms of the defenseless settlers. My blood boiled 
with indignation as sheep and hogs and cattle 
were sent off to the fleet. So rich was the plunder 
that two additional days were spent here, and it 


21^ A TORY’S REVENGE. 

was not until the afternoon of the fifteenth sail 
was made back along the coast. Early the next 
morning we were at the entrance of Casco Bay, 
where the rest of the day was spent in devastating 
the surrounding islands. 

Fortunately neither at Damiscove Island nor 
here was I forced to participate in the raiding, 
whether from fear on the part of Captain Coulson 
that I might escape him if I went on shore, I can- 
not say. Just before sundown, however, a signal 
went up from the Canseau for the Captain to 
come on board, and he directed Sam Green, who 
was the boatswain of his gig, to take me along as 
one of the rowers, probably that I might be where 
he could keep his own eye upon me. 

We pulled over to the flag-ship, which was lying 
closer in under the south end of Peak’s Island than 
any of her consorts, and our skipper, boarding her, 
went into the cabin. 

‘‘ Go on board yerselves, lads,” Sam said to his 
men as soon as Captain Coulson had disappeared ; 
“ Ben and me’ll look out for the boat.” 

Glad to visit with the crew of the cutter, our 
comrades speedily clambered over the rail on to 
the deck. 

‘‘ Here ye be,” Master Green now ejaculated in 
a voice meant only for my ear. Do ye see ? all 


I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH FLEET. 213 

the boats of this here craft are ashore I Now’s 
our chance. We’ll just pull like a streak ’round 
the pint of the island, which’ll hide us from the 
fleet ; then we’ll strike straight ’cross to the main- 
land. We’ll be half way thar ’fore they can git a 
boat arter us, an’ ’twill be too late then to ketch 
us.” 

Kisky as the undertaking was we were not 
likely to have a better chance of escape, and, cut- 
ting the painter, we were in another moment 
rowing as we had never rowed before in our lives 
for the south end of the islet. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


IN WHICH CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 

The boldness of our venture contributed to its 
success. That we should attempt to desert in 
broad daylight, and with the eyes of half a hun- 
dred men fastened upon us, was apparently too 
preposterous an idea to find lodgment at first in 
the minds of the watchers ; and what they thought 
of our unexpected movement may be surmised 
from their shouts. 

‘‘The pigs will all be catched, laddies, Tore ye 
get thar!” 

“ Bet ye a shillin’ ye won’t find a lamb ! ” 

“ Come back here, ye spalpeens, ’fore the ole 
man misses ye ! ” 

“ Hold on, lads, an’ we’ll go wid ye ! ” 

“ Did ye ever see such a lark, shipmates ? They 
are goin’ to bring back the island.” 

These, and a dozen more similar exclamations, 
swept across the water towards us, as we rounded 
the end of the islet, and disappeared from the 
sight of the hilarious crew. 

214 


CAPTAIN MOWATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 215 

‘‘Your plan has worked like a charm, Sam,” 
I now cried joyfully. “ It isn’t half as far over 
to the mainland as I thought, and I believe we 
shall reach it before they suspect we are running 
away.” 

“I dunno,” my comrade answered, without 
lessening his stroke; “the minnit the ole man 
ketches on to our trick, thar’ll be music. He’ll 
make things hum till they get arter us.” And 
things must have hummed under the Captain’s 
direction, for we were not over half way to the 
shore, when two yawls, each pulled by six sailors, 
came into view below the island. Catching sight 
of us, they gave an exultant yell, and redoubled 
their efforts to overhaul us. 

As their cry reached my ears I became excited, 
and paddled wildly in my attempt to increase our 
speed. 

“ Tut ! Tut ! Ben,” Master Green cautioned 
me ; “ ye’ll gain nuthin’ in that way. Take her 
cool like ! All we want is to hold our own. See ! 
they are only pullin’ thirty- four strokes to our 
forty. We can let up a bit, an’ still keep ahead 
of ’em.” 

I immediately recognized the wisdom of his 
suggestion, and lessened the dippings of my own 
blades to keep time with him. When they 


21G 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


spurted we spurted, when they slackened we 
slackened, and so we kept up a speed which en- 
abled us to land before they were much more 
than half across the strait. 

Without stopping to secure our craft we ran 
for the nearest woods, and were safely under the 
cover of the trees before our pursuers reached the 
shore. 

I was for plunging deep into the forest, but 
Sam stopped me. 

Hold up,” he said ; ^^mebbe they won’t f oiler 
us. We’ll go ’long the edge to the south, ’cause 
it’s what they won’t expect ; then we’ll hide an’ 
watch.” 

He led the way as he spoke down the woods 
a hundred yards or so, where we crouched in a 
thicket from which we had a good view of the 
bay. 

The redcoats were just landing, and their first 
act was to send two of their number to secure 
the abandoned yawl which was drifting off with 
the tide. While this was being done the officers 
in charge of the barges came together for con- 
sultation. 

There’s no use in following the rascals,” one 
of them declared ; ‘‘ they’ve had time enough to 
get a half mile away. We don’t know either 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 217 

how near here they may find friends to help them. 
It’s a risky business chasing them up.” 

‘‘ What is it to us anyway ? ” retorted the other, 
coolly lighting his pipe. ‘‘ Captain Coulson can 
keep a better watch over his men, or look them 
up himself. I’m with you for ending the pursuit 
here.” 

The conversation was interrupted at this point 
by an act on the part of one of the sailors who 
had been sent after the drifting boat. Leaving 
his comrade to return with the secured craft, he 
sauntered slowly up towards the forest. 

Thar they be ! ” he now exclaimed. Don’t 
ye see ’em ? ” and he broke into a run for the 
place where we had entered the woods. 

Come back here, you fool !” shouted his com- 
mander. You don’t see them any more than I 
do ! Come back, I say ! ” 

If the fellow heard he did not heed the com- 
mand. 

‘‘ I’ll ketch ’em ! ” he cried. I’ll ketch ’em ! ” 
and then he ran faster than ever for the pines. 

‘‘I’ll be blest if ’tain’t Zeke Goodyear!” ex- 
claimed my comrade in a whisper. 

Springing to our feet we watched the runner 
with new interest, while I explained in a low 
voice how the patriot came to be on the Cat. 


218 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


I’m feered hell bring the whole pack down 
on us,” Sam ejaculated as I finished. ‘‘We must 
cut for it.” 

The last declaration was called forth by a sudden 
movement on the part of the Britishers. Evi- 
dently the midshipman in charge of the boat to 
which Master Goodyear belonged had become 
convinced that the latter was also running away, 
and regarding it as a more serious thing to lose 
one of his own crew than to fail to catch two de- 
serters from the King George, he now said to his 
men : 

“ After him, lads ! A crown to the man who 
first puts hands upon him ! ” and with shouts the 
whole squad started for the woods. 

Long before they reached the place where 
Ezekiel Goodyear had disappeared, however, we 
were rods away from our thicket, still moving to 
the south and west, as the direction most likely 
to be neglected by the searching party. The 
forest grew denser as we advanced, the ground 
declined, and soon we came to an extensive 
swamp. 

“We can’t go any farther in this direction, 
Sam,” I exclaimed, and waiting for my compan- 
ion, who was a rod or two behind me, to come up. 

“ I reck’n not,” he replied as he joined me. 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 219 

‘‘Waal, thar’s no need to. We hain’t followed. 
The redcoats went off t’ other way.” 

“ I hope they won’t catch Master Goodyear,” I 
remarked, growing anxious about him, now that 
our own escape seemed assured. 

“ His chance wa’n’t as good as ours,” com- 
mented Sam, “but’twas wuth takin’, an’ most 
likely he’ll git clear.” 

“ That makes me think, Sam,” I said. “You 
told me you were on board the King George to 
help me. Did you mean that was why you en- 
listed?” 

“ Sartin,” he declared. “I hung ’round her 
cabin ’nough to larn that the ole man was goin’ 
to put her into the navy, an’ have ye jine, so I 
’listed to git ye free ; and I dun it ; ” he added 
with some pride. 

“Yes, you did,” I responded gratefully, “and 
I thank you for it.” 

“ Hist !” he said, an instant later. “Sum un 
is cornin’ this way. We’d better hide in yonder 
tree.” 

He pointed towards a huge hemlock, and in 
another minute we were snugly concealed in its 
thick top. 

I had myself heard no suspicious sounds, and 
so, the moment I was hidden, strained my ears 


220 


A. TORY’S REVENGE. 


to detect the noise which had alarmed my com- 
rade. 

Soon I caught the snapping of a twig as though 
it had been stepped upon ; this was followed by 
the faint rustle of a leaf ; whoever the approach- 
ing man was he was apparently coming slowly 
and cautiously. 

‘‘Mos’ likely 'tis Zeke,’’ Sam muttered; ‘‘no 
redcoat would come that way.” 

Expectantly, therefore, we waited the appear- 
ance of the fellow, and were soon rewarded by 
catching a glimpse of him through the branches 
of our tree. It was Master Goodyear, fast enough, 
and, descending to the lower limbs of the hem- 
lock, Sam attracted his attention by a low hiss. 
In another moment he was beside us in the thick 
mass of evergreen, and greeting us with the 
warmth of an old friend. 

“Bless me, if ’tain’t ye, Ben ! an’ if I’m alive, 
’tis Sam Green, whom I hain’t seen for nigh two 
years ! So ye are the desarters we were arter ? 
Wall, spin yer yarn, an’ I’ll tell mine, though 
’tisn’t very long.” 

I briefly related what had happened to me since 
I left the Bridewell ; then he said : 

“Ye an’ Sam took a cute time to ’scape, an’ no 
mistake. Thar wa’n’t no boat on the Canseau, 


CAPTAIN MOWATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 221 

an’ the ole man had to sign’l the other vessels to 
send sum over. We were the fust to git away, 
though the Roger^s yawl follered close. ’Fore we 
reached the flag-ship her capt’n shouted out what 
the matter was, an’ we put on arter ye ’round 
the island. The rest ye know ’till I ran for the 
woods. I’ve been here many a time ; was brought 
up over back here a few miles ; an’ takin’ my best 
chance, I scud to the sou’-sou’-west as softly as I 
could. Findin’ they were arter me I hid in a 
clump of bushes till the squad went off on the 
northard tack ; then I cum on, fetchin’ up in this 
here port, which I muss say is a snug one.” 

For at least an hour longer we sat there, but 
heard and saw nothing of our pursuers. It had 
now become too dark to see a rod away in the 
thick woods, and the chilly night breeze drew 
through the treetop, cutting us to the bone. 

‘^I say, lads, the redcoats muss have giv up 
the sarch ’fore now, an’ I move we git out of this,” 
Master Goodyear exclaimed suddenly. 

‘‘ Where shall we go ? ” I asked. 

‘‘Thar’s a farmhouse at t’other end of the 
swamp, whar my brother-in-law lives, an’ I can 
guide ye thar like a book,” he responded. 

“ Lead away,” Sam and I answered, following 
him down to the ground. 


222 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Once at the foot of the tree he started holdly off 
through the forest towards the north, and confi- 
dent that he knew the way Master Green and I 
made no attempt to shape our course. It would 
doubtless have been better if we had, for in ten 
minutes we were brought into a slough where 
we were soon floundering nearly up to our knees. 
Every effort to extricate ourselves failed, owing 
to the darkness, and at length we set ourselves 
with a dogged persistency to keep straight ahead 
whatever the footing. 

How long we kept up the tramp will always 
remain an uncertainty. Not until the night was 
well advanced and our feet heavy with the accu- 
mulations of mud, our garments torn with the 
twigs and briers, and our strength quite exhausted 
from our efforts, did we emerge upon high land 
again. 

“I shan’t go a step farther to-night,” Sam de- 
' dared, when he found we were on solid ground 
again. I’m goin’ to camp right here.” 

He took out his pocket flint and steel, and 
scraping together some leaves started a fire. 
Ezekiel and I hastened to collect some of the 
dried limbs that lay all about us, and soon we 
had a huge blaze. As its rays lighted up the 
surrounding trees Master Goodyear cried : 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. ^23 

‘‘Sho’ now ! if this hain’t Wintergreen Island, 
an’ I believe we’ve been a trampin’ round it half 
the night, for ’tain’t over a half mile from where 
we started.” 

There was little comfort in his words, and so 
Sam and I said nothing. When we had rested a 
while, we broke down a lot of pine boughs, and, con- 
structing a rude bower on the windward side of our 
fire, crawled into it, and got what sleep we could. 

Early in the morning, however, we were astir, 
and with the daylight to help him Ezekiel led us 
quickly off of the islet, and out of the swamp, 
to the dwelling of Uriah Nason, where we were 
given a hearty welcome. 

Dry clothing and a hearty meal were speedily 
furnished us, and then Master Green and I, leav- 
ing our comrade at his sister’s, hastened off to- 
wards Falmouth to acquaint the authorities with 
the coming of the British fleet. 

Before we reached the town the path we were 
following brought us out upon an elevated place 
where we had a good view of the bay. A single 
glance seaward showed me that the five vessels 
had already hoisted their anchors, and were tack- 
ing up the harbor. 

We must hurry, Sam,” I said, or the fleet 
will arrive at the village before us.” 


224 : 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


he replied, watching the movements of 
the craft ; ‘Hhe wind’s dead ’gainst them, an’ 
’twill be ’most night ’fore they’re off the town.” 

But I was not convinced, and continued my 
journey at a pace which made the old sailor puff 
and blow to keep up with me. It was not far 
from the middle of the forenoon, therefore, when 
we presented ourselves before General Preble’s 
door. 

He is over at Greele’s tavern, attending a 
meeting of the Safety Committee,” we were 
told, and so we posted off to that inn. 

I had but to give my name, and my comrade 
and I were at once admitted into the room where 
the town leaders were assembled. 

There were many exclamations of greeting, 
and questions about my coming, but unheeding 
them all I announced : 

“Captain Mo watt, with a fleet of five vessels, 
carrying seventy guns and five hundred men, is 
in the lower bay, on his way here to destroy the 
town.” 

The members of the Committee glanced um 
easily at each other, and then General Preble 
asked : 

“Are you sure of this, Ben? We discovered 
the vessels yesterday, but thought it was some 


CAPTAIN MO WATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 225 

Britisher who merely intended to ravage the 
islands of the bay and have sent Captains 
Noyes and Knight with their companies to drive 
him off.” 

‘‘ When did you send them ? ” I inquired. 

‘^Last night, and they must have crossed over 
to the isles early this morning.” 

To find them already devastated,” 1 exclaimed, 

and the fleet on its way here,” and I then told 
enough of my story for them to know it was no 
idle report I was giving them. 

Sam says it will be nearly night before the 
ships can heat up here,” I added, ‘‘and you will 
have that time to arrange for defense.” 

“It will do little good,” responded Colonel 
Freeman, a little bitterly, I thought ; “ we have- 
n’t powder enough to load the few cannon we 
have for a single round.” 

Amazed that the town was in so helpless a con- 
dition, I ventured to ask : 

“Did not you receive notice of Captain Coul- 
son’s threat some weeks ago ? I know arrange- 
ments were made to send you word before I was 
cast into the Bridewell.” 

There was a marked silence for a few minutes, 
and then Master Theophilus Parsons said : 

‘*‘Yes, Philip Crandall of Harps well brought 


m 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


US the news early in September, and I was one 
among a score who regarded the tidings as the 
ravings of an angry and baffled man, that were 
not worth the heeding.” 

Perhaps the British commander may be per- 
suaded to give up his purpose,” Doctor Coffln 
suggested, and straightway the assembly fell to 
discussing how best to mollify the Tory’s anger, 
and conciliate his powerful ally, Captain Mowatt. 

Master Green and I at length grew weary of 
what seemed to us a useless debate, and begged 
leave to withdraw. Permission was granted, 
after we had been thanked for our service, and 
we went up to my old home on King Street, where 
Jane gave us a cordial welcome, and Mistress 
Coulson, who was too ill to see us, sent us out 
words of kindly greeting. 

At four o’clock Enoch Freeman came running 
into the house to tell us that the fleet had arrived, 
and was anchored in a semi-circle off the village. 
We hurried down town, and were in time to see 
an officer come on shore from the Canseau, under 
a flag of truce, bringing a letter for the Safety 
Committee. 

Later the missive fell into the hands of Colonel 
Freeman, and it has been my privilege to read it 
several times. It was long, illiterate, and abusive, 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 227 

and had evidently been prepared the day before, 
while the Canseau was in the lower bay — at the 
time, as I have reason to believe, when Captain 
Coulson was called over to the flagship, and I 
made my escape ; for it was easy to see that the 
Tory had had a part in its composition. I give 
only the substance of it here : * 

Canseau, Falmouth, Oct, 16, 1775. 

Sirs : 

You have long experienced Britain’s forbear- 
ance in withholding the rod of correction. You 
have been guilty of the most unpardonable rebel- 
lion. I am ordered to execute a just punishment 
on the town of Falmouth. I give you two hours 
in which you can remove your sick and helpless 
ones. I shall then open Are and lay the town in 
ashes. 

I am, etc., 

H. Mow ATT, 

Commander. 

The Town Committee had adjourned some 
hours before without coming to any decision as to 
the best way of dealing with the enemy, but they 
were now called together again, and appointed 
General Preble, Doctor Coffin, and Master John 

*I have examined a copy of the original missive, and find 
that Master Mathews has given here the main points in it. — 
Editor, 


22B 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Pagan as their representatives to visit the Can- 
seau and obtain what concession they could from 
her irate captain. 

They found him insolent and implacable. To 
their suggestion that two hours were not long 
enough to remove the sick and helpless from the 
village, he replied : 

^^My orders I have received from Admiral 
Graves, and they direct me to repair to this place 
with all possible expedition, take my position 
near the town, and burn, sink, and destroy, and 
this without giving the people the slightest warn- 
ing. The note you have received is of special 
grace, and at the risk of my commission.” 

But surely you will be willing to delay the 
execution of those orders until we can send a 
special messenger to the Admiral, asking on what 
terms he will spare our town,” General Preble 
expostulated. 

The Britisher turned and consulted in a low 
tone with Captain Coulson, who stood a few feet 
away, evidently enjoying the discomfiture of his 
townsmen ; and then, with a triumphant gleam 
in his eyes, he replied : 

Deliver me all your cannon and small-arms 
and ammunition by eight to-morrow morning, 
and you are safe until I hear further from the 


CAPTAIN MOW ATT SHOWS HIS HAND. 229 


Admiral, who may be induced to save your town ; 
or deliver me eight stands of small-arms immedi- 
ately, and you will not be molested till that hour. ” 

The delegates were keen enough to see that 
proposal was merely a scheme on the part of the 
Tory and his willing ally to render the village 
absolutely defenseless before it was bombarded, 
and, therefore, they answered : 

We do not believe our people will submit to 
these humiliating terms, but you shall have their 
reply as soon as it can be sent on board ; ” then 
they hastened on shore. 

Their colleagues were still at Greele’s tavern, 
and, on learning of the disgraceful proposal of 
Captain Mowatt, were practically of one opinion : 
It was under no consideration to be accepted. 

In order to gain time to ascertain the wishes 
of their townsmen, however, they sent the eight 
muskets off to the flag-ship; after which they 
issued a call for a town meeting at seven o’clock 
the next morning. 

When these arrangements were completed it 
was night ; and a darkness, as heavy and somber 
as a funeral pall, settled down over the ill-fated 
town. 

* There is no other reasonable explanation of this proposition 
on the part of Captain Mowatt. — Editor. 


CHAPTER XV. 


IN WHICH THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S 
DOOM. 

I DO not think it was over an hour after the 
final adjournment of the Safety Committee before 
the prevailing sentiment of the townspeople re- 
specting the demand of Captain Mowatt was 
well known. In the houses, on the streets, at 
the taverns, men with pale but resolute faces 
discussed the situation, and declared that they 
would not submit to the Britisher’s infamous pro- 
posal, not even to save their homes and property. 
It was clear that at the meeting on the morrow 
there would be an overwhelming vote not to give 
up the arms and ammunition of the patriots. 

As this refusal would mean the immediate 
destruction of the village, scores took advantage 
of the few hours of respite granted them, and 
hastened to remove their families and household 
goods to a place of safety. All night long teams 
were making for the country. The aged, the 
sick, and the helpless were first cared for ; then 
the more valuable personal effects of the settlers 
230 


THE SIGNAL tS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 231 

were carried away. Vehicles of every description, 
from the hand-barrow to the ox-cart, were made 
use of. The cries of the children, the sobs of the 
women, the moans of the suffering, mingled with 
the sighs of the chilly night winds. There was 
hurry and bustle everywhere, but no panic. 

The heavy darkness hid many a kind and un- 
selfish deed. Men left their own to look out for 
themselves while they assisted some helpless 
neighbor ; women trudged out of town that 
others weaker than themselves might occupy 
their places in the overcrowded carts ; bundles, 
sometimes containing all that the bearer possessed 
of this world's goods, were tossed ruthlessly 
aside at the appeal of the aged, or the cry of the 
child. In a hundred ways humanity honored 
itself that night ; and there were heroes of all 
ages and sizes. 

Sam and I were still down town when this 
evacuation began and, following an example set 
for us by Colonel Freeman and some of the other 
members of the Committee, we devoted several 
hours to the helping of those families, whose 
heads were away in the Continental army,* to 

* I find that there were on this night forty families in the 
town the heads of which were with the forces about Boston. 
It is to these the aid Master Mathews refers to was given.— 
Editor. 


232 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


prepare for flight. About midnight, however, we 
found ourselves hack in front of Greele’s inn, and 
as Master Green filled and lit his pipe I asked : 

What next, Sam ? ” 

‘^Thar’s a duty we’ve neglected too long al- 
ready,” he replied between his whiffs. 

What is it ? ” I inquired in some surprise. 

We must take the mistress to a place of 
safety,” he responded. 

I wondered that I had not thought of it before, 
and started at a brisk walk up the street towards 
the house. Sam kept pace with me, and together 
we entered the kitchen. 

A lighted candle stood on the table, but Jane 
was upstairs. Calling her down, we told her 
of our purpose, to meet with the remonstrance : 

‘‘But Mistress Coulson is too feeble to be moved. 
I don’t believe she is going to live until morning ; ” 
and I now noticed that her eyes were red with 
weeping. 

“It cannot be worse than for her to stay here,” 
I replied. “ The booming of the cannon and the 
crackling of the flames will frighten her. Then 
there is little hope of this house escaping in the 
general conflagration, and she will have to be 
carried out from it a few hours later. I think 
she will see herself that it is wiser to go now.” 


THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 233 

I’ll speak to her about it,” the faithful woman 
said, going back to the sick chamber. 

A moment later I was called upstairs, wliere 
Mistress Coulson greeted me with a smile, and 
then asked feebly : 

‘‘You are certain, Ben, the town will be de- 
stroyed ? ” 

“ I have no doubt of it, good mistress,” I re- 
plied gently; “it is only a question of a few 
hours.” 

“ And it is all that the man I call husband may 
wreak his vengeance on a people whose sole crime 
is their love of liberty,” she cried excitedly. 
“ Mothers and babes, the sick and the dying, are 
to be driven out into the bleak fields shelterless ; 
there, with tears of agony, to see their homes, 
their furniture, their clothing, their provisions, 
all consumed by the cruel fiames. A more bar- 
barous act was never committed by a band of 
savages ; and it is fitting that I, the wife of the 
instigator, should go forth with the others. Yes, 
make your arrangements, and I will begin the 
journey, though I trust a merciful Father will 
spare me from witnessing the destruction Samuel 
Coulson and his allies shall cause.” 

“ Where shall we carry you ?” I queried. 

“To my cousin’s, the wife of Nathaniel Milton 


234 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


of Deering,” she answered. J ane knows where 
it is, and can direct you ; nor will my coming he 
unexpected, for I long ago arranged with my rela- 
tive to come there should I have to flee from the 
town.” 

She sank back quite exhausted by her speaking, 
and leaving Jane to care for her, I hastened away 
to find a conveyance of some kind in which to 
take her out to Master Milton-s. 

I knew that Miss Dora had disposed of the Cap- 
tain’s horses and vehicles before she left for 
Boston, and that we must, therefore, depend upon 
others to furnish us with the outfit we now needed. 
So leaving Sam in the kitchen, peacefully smok- 
ing, I went out in search of a horse and wagon. 

For a half hour I sought among our neighbors 
to find some one who could lend me a turnout of 
some kind, but failed. Every team was already 
in use. 

I shall have to get a light carriage, and have 
Sam and myself draw it,” I muttered, pausing 
for a moment at the corner where the street I 
was on came into Monument Square. 

The next moment I saw that there was a light 
still burning in the waiting-room of Marston’s 
tavern, and continued my soliloquy : 

‘‘ Some one is up over at the inn. I’ll go over 


THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 235 

there, and maybe I can secure a wagon of some 
sort, if not a beast.” 

As I approached the building I observed a dark 
figure on the stoop, and a little spark of fire where 
the head of the man ought to be suggested that it 
was somebody enjoying a late, or possibly it were 
better to say an early, smoke, as it was now near 
one o’clock. The eighteenth day of October, des- 
tined to be so eventful in the history of Falmouth, 
had already begun. 

Walking up to the steps I accosted the unknown 
personage, saying : 

“ Good-evening, sir.” 

“Hello, Ben,” the well-known voice of Jack 
Mandeville replied. 

Delighted to know he was my old friend, the 
driver of the Brunswick stage, I asked quickly : 

“ Where are your horses. Jack ? ” 

“ In the barn,” he answered, a little gruffly, 
‘ ‘ Where I propose to keep ’em. ” Then, as though 
this declaration needed some explanation, he went 
on : 

“ I turned in at nine. In an hour some one 
was after me to let him have the animals, and I 
was called up every half hour from that time on 
till I got up and sat down here. Since then four- 
teen fellows by actual count have wanted the 


236 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


beasts ; some even offered to buy them. But 
what could I do ? The horses were tired out with 
their hard pull over here, and before I’d gone to 
bed every seat on and in the coach was booked for 
the return trip in the morning. If I let the steeds 
go I couldn’t make my journey, and so I’ve served 
all alike. I’ve said ‘ no ’ till I’m not sure I’ll ever 
be able to say anything else.” 

‘‘You are doing very well saying something 
else now. Jack,” I retorted with a laugh, “and 
what’s more, I’m going to give you a chance to 
say ‘yes.’ I want those horses, at least one of 
them.” 

“What ye want him for ?” he inquired testily. 

I told him, concluding : 

“ It isn’t far out to Master Milton’s, Jack, and 
you are not going back on me. I’ll be careful of 
the animal and bring him back before you need 
him.” 

He shifted uneasily in his chair for a moment 
or two, and then blurted out : 

“Look here, Ben! you shall have the horses 
and the stage, too. I might as well drive out to 
Deering as be sitting here. You run back to the 
house, and tell that gal to let you have both a 
straw and feather bed. By the time you get 
them down to the side door, I’ll be there with the 


THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 23f 

coach. We’ll turn down the seats, and make as 
comfortable quarters for the mistress as her own 
bedroom. Then Sam and you can wrap her in 
blankets and bring her down. I’ll drive easy 
like, and she’ll make the trip as pert as can be. 
I wouldn’t do this for every one, but she’s a towns- 
woman. I knew her when she was a little gal, 
playing ’round her pa’s door-yard ; and now she’s 
sick nigh unto death. Too bad ! Too bad ! ” and 
the rough but kind-hearted fellow arose and, 
knocking the ashes out of his pipe, went off 
towards the barn. 

I almost flew up the street, and had beds and 
bolsters and blankets down at the door when 
Master Mandeville drove up. It took us but a 
few minutes to arrange the stage for its occu- 
pant, and then Sam and I brought the invalid 
down, and laid her gently upon the improvised 
couch. Jane got in to care for her mistress, 
while Master Green and I mounted the box beside 
Jack and we were off. 

Never had a woman a more cautious driver than 
Master Mandeville proved that night, and, saving 
the jars and jolts which came from the conditions 
of the road, and which were unavoidable, we 
reached our destination without incident. It 
was still too early, even for a thrifty farmer, to 


238 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


be astir, and leaping down from the coach I went 
over to the door and knocked. Soon Master Mil- 
ton himself answered the rap, and I explained to 
him who we were, and the object of our coming. 

Instantly there was a bustle in the house ; 
lights were lit ; feet hurried to and fro ; the door 
opened, and the kind face of Mistress Milton 
beamed out upon us. 

‘‘Bring Mary right in,” she said ; “her room is 
all ready.” 

Leaving Jack to look after his horses, Sam and 
I bore Mistress Coulson into the house, and laid 
her upon the bed pointed out to us. She smiled 
as we did so, remarking in quite a strong voice : 

“ I wouldn’t have believed I could have made 
the journey so easily, my good lads ; it is due to 
your excellent arrangement, and God bless you 
for it. But don’t let me keep you a minute. 
Hasten back to the town, where you may be in 
time to aid others, and if I never see you again, 
these are my last words : Be true to the cause.” 

A great lump rose up in my throat, and I 
couldn’t say a word. I looked appealingly over 
at Sam, but he was worse off than I was, and so, 
without making any reply, we went back to the 
stage where we expected to find Master Mande- 
ville impatiently waiting for us. 


THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 239 

Instead he was unhitching his horses, and ex- 
plained his act by telling us : 

“ Master Milton says I may as well feed up here 
as in the village ; then when I drive back I shall 
be all ready for my route.” 

“ Yes,” chimed in our host himself, appearing 
at that moment with a lantern, ‘^and Ma has 
called Betsey, that’s our girl, who will have break- 
fast ready for you in a jiffy. This is a good place 
to feed both man and beast.” 

Whatever the animals may have thought of 
the fodder placed before them, there could be but 
one opinion about the meal we sat down to a half 
hour later. There was hot brown bread, baked 
potatoes, pork and beans, roast mutton, and pump- 
kin pies as yellow as gold, and which melted in 
your mouth ; and if three fellows ever showed 
that they were hungry we were they. We ate 
until we could eat no more, and were just getting 
up from the table when Mistress Milton appeared, 
asking in something of a flutter : 

‘‘ Which ones of you are Sam and Ben ?” 

We told her. 

‘‘The Mistress is sinking fast,” she announced, 
“and wishes to see you once more.” 

Hurriedly we followed her to the chamber where 
Mistress Coulson lay. She was propped up in 


240 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


bed, and even to Master Green and me it was 
clear that she was dying. 

‘‘ God is merciful,” she gasped as she saw us. 
‘‘ He has heard my prayer. 1 shall not see nor 
shall I hear them tell of the destruction of the 
town. But have no fear ; our loved cause shall 
yet triumph. The mouth of the Lord has spoken 
it ; whereof I am glad.” 

Her eyes closed ; her lips ceased to move ; and 
without a struggle the end came. So quietly did 
she pass away, Sam and I could scarce believe it 
when Jane exclaimed : 

She’s gone ! ” and broke into tears. 

I am not ashamed to add that my own and my 
comrade’s eyes were wet as we left the room and 
went back to the kitchen. The woman whom we 
had both counted it an honor to serve was no more, 
and our hearts were desolate. 

Jack caught something of our sorrow, and at 
sunrise we drove in silence back to the village. 
We were in time for the town meeting, and 
went with the throng which, about seven o’clock, 
gathered in the Court-house. Colonel Freeman 
was elected moderator, and when he had called 
the audience to order. Master Preble, as Chair- 
man of the Committee that had visited the Can- 
seau the evening before, made his report. When 


THE SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR FALMOUTH’S DOOM. 241 

he told of the reply of the Committee to the de- 
mand of the British commander, the crowd 
cheered ; and when he finished, some one called 
out : 

“ I move the same committee be sent off to tell 
the redcoat we won’t surrender our arms.” 

The motion was seconded and carried unani- 
mously without discussion,* and the chairman, 
bowing to General Preble, said : 

‘‘We will wait here for the return of that 
committee.” 

As the three patriots left the room, some of us, 
and Sam and I were among the number, followed 
them down to the dock, where we watched their 
boat go over to the fiag-ship. It did not remain 
there over five minutes, and when it started back 
the oarsmen pulled as though they did not have 
a minute to spare. 

The General and his colleagues showed the 
same haste when they landed, and gave us a hard 
race back to the Court building. Pushing his 
way through the throng. Master Preble reached 
the platform, and announced : 


* “ No more fearless and patriotic action by a deliberate 
body of people in such an exposed and helpless condition was 
taken during the struggle of the colonies ’’—From Portland 
IN THE Past. 


242 


A TORY’S REVENGU. 


In thirty minutes Captain Mowatt will begin 
the bombardment of the town.” 

‘‘There is, then, fellow-citizens, but one course 
of action open to us,” Colonel Freeman declared 
solemnly. “Each one of us must protect his 
property and his life as best he can ; and may the 
good Lord help us ! ” 

Instantly the patriots scattered ; some to re- 
main by their homes as long as there was a 
chance of saving them ; others to flee from the 
village before the rain of balls and bombs began. 

Sam and I, having no property to protect, went 
slowly up Meeting house Lane to the First Parish 
Building, where we stood looking off at the fleet. 

Never was there a fairer autumnal day. The 
sky was cloudless ; the wind gentle ; the atmos- 
phere invigorating. The whole expanse of town, 
and bay, and islands seemed to repose under the 
smile of a loving God. But there were fiends 
at hand to mar the lovely picture, no less fiends 
because they wore the guise of men. 

The half hour passed ; then a red flag ran up 
to the masthead of the Canseau ; an instant 
later a cannon boomed forth. It was the signal 
for Falmouth’s doom. 


CHAPTER XVL 

IN WHICH I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 

My account of the further occurrences of the 
day must necessarily be a partial one. He who 
is himself a part of a scene observes only that 
which transpires about him. I can speak, there- 
fore, only of what I saw and heard and did. 

Before the sound of that signal-gun had died 
away the whole fleet cleared for action, and soon 
a shower of cannon-balls, carcasses, bombs, live 
shells, grape-shot, and even bullets from small- 
arms, was raining down upon the compact part 
of the town. The spectacle would have been a 
fascinating one, but for the wanton destruction 
the missiles immediately wrought. 

They crashed through the warehouses, they 
plowed up the streets, they cut off the limbs of 
the trees, they sank the shipping, they set fire to 
the dwellings. They screamed and hissed, they 
whirled and danced, they shrieked and sung, like 
so many demons rejoicing over the havoc they 
were making. Nor was the pandemonium a brief 
243 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


one ; for nearly nine hours it continued, until 
upwards of three thousand projectiles had been 
hurled into the village, an average of one for 
every ten seconds. 

The first building to take fire was Josiah Shaw’s 
saddle and harness shop on Middle Street ; and as 
the fiames shot up from its roof I turned to my 
comrade, exclaiming : 

I’m going back down town, Sam. It’s better 
than standing idly here. Perhaps we can help 
some one to save his property.” 

‘‘And git killed yerself,” growled the old 
sailor, but he followed me down the lane. 

We had gone but a few rods when we met two 
men, one of whom I had seen before and knew 
to be Major Libby, though I had never spoken 
with him. He seemed to recognize me, however, 
for, bowing his head slightly, he remarked : 

“I see the meeting-house is still uninjured. 
Master Mathews.” 

“Yes, sir,” I replied; “no balls have as yet 
been thrown so far up town.” 

“Nevertheless, Master Bragdon and I will 
station ourselves there to save the building should 
it catch fire,” he explained ; and then I knew that 
his companion was Solomon Bragdon, the rope 
maker. 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 245 

‘‘I don’t know as we shall save anything very 
long,” I responded with a dubious shake of my 
head, for Captain Coulson’s announcement about 
landing a force to fire the buildings which es- 
caped the cannon shot had come to my mind. 
‘‘After a time a squad of redcoats will be sent 
on shore to burn everything which the guns do 
not destroy.” 

“ Do you think so ? ” he asked, stopping short, 
and glancing off towards the vessels, as though 
he expected to see the band of incendiaries 
already on their way towards the docks. 

“I know it,” was my answer. “It is a part 
of their plan, and will be carried out unless we 
can get together a force large enough to prevent 
the landing.” 

“It cannot be done,” he answered with the 
conviction of one who knew whereof he spoke. 
“ Some of us have already discussed such a move- 
ment, but with both companies of our militia 
away at the islands, we have neither the men 
nor the arms and ammunition to repel a landing. 
ISTo, Colonel Freeman was right when he said at 
our meeting this morning : ‘ Each of us must 
protect his property and life as best he can ; and 
may the good Lord help us.’ He it is who may 
help us to save His house,” 


2i6 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Master Green did not stop to hear this conver- 
sation, and was already some distance down the 
street, so without further word I hurried on after 
him. But as I ran along I experienced the most 
profound sense of helplessness I had ever known 
in my life. What could I, or any one else, do to 
stay the destruction of life and property in Fal- 
mouth ? Whatever, or whoever, was spared that 
day would owe it to the hand of a merciful God. 
Young as I was, and careless as I had hitherto 
been about religious things, I now felt sure of 
this, and with the brief prayer, low but fervent, 
‘‘Lord help us,” I joined my comrade, and in 
another moment we were in the heart of the 
burning district. 

This, at that time, centered in and about Middle 
and Church streets. A dozen houses and stores, 
St. Paul’s Church, the new Court-house, and 
the new fire-engine building beside it, were al- 
ready burning fiercely ; and that part of the town 
soon presented the appearance of a roaring, vol- 
canic sheet of fiame. 

It was useless to attempt to save anything 
there, and we turned into a side street which led 
us around by Greele’s tavern. The little hostelry 
was still untouched, but as we drew near it, a red 
hot shot struck in a pile of chips at the rear of 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 247 

the building, setting them on fire. Eapidly the 
flames spread towards the inn, and, anxious to 
save it, Sam and I ran into the yard. 

Quick as we were, however. Mistress Greele 
was before us. Hastening out of the back door 
with a huge pan in her hand, she first trampled 
out the blaze, and then, rolling the cannon ball 
into her tin, carried it to the side lane, over into 
which she threw ifc. Turning about to return to 
the house, she saw us, and exclaimed : 

The redcoats will have to stop firing soon.” 

What makes you think so ?” I asked. 

Because their bombs have given out,” she 
answered with a comical shrug of her fat 
shoulders, ‘‘and they are now making new balls. 
Don’t you see they can’t wait for them to cool ? ” 
“What a woman!” cried Master Green ad- 
miringly, as she disappeared in the dwelling. 
“I’ll bet my fiist month’s pay arter I ship agin 
that she’ll save her tavern ; ” and she did. 

Though the inn was struck by several balls, 
and set on fire three times during the day, its 
undaunted mistress remained there throughout 
the bombardment, extinguishing the flames with 
her own hands, and keeping her property from 
serious injury, though every building about her 
was destroyed. 


248 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


A little beyond the inn we fell in with a squad 
of men, under the lead of Joseph McLellan, one 
of the Committee of Safety, who were making a 
systematic attempt to save all the property in the 
neighborhood of King, Queen, Middle, and York 
streets, which was still uninjured by the fire. 
We joined them, and until after the noon hour 
were busy at our self-assigned task. 

Heedless of the rain of shot and shell, we 
pushed through the clouds of smoke and fiying 
embers, extinguishing fiames, pushing in burning 
buildings, removing goods from houses and stores 
that were doomed, and stacking them in places 
which promised the greatest safety. Without 
intending to boast I here say that Marston’s 
tavern on Monument Square, Greenwood’s inn 
at the corner of Middle and Silver streets, the 
residences of Master John Cox, Master Benjamin 
Larrabee, and Master Joshua Freeman, as well 
as those of our leader and his brother, Brice 
McLellan, who was also of our party, were 
saved by our patient and persistent efforts. 

During all that toil one thing struck me with 
such singularity as almost to inspire me with 
awe. Though the storm of missiles was constant, 
I did not see a person killed or wounded that 
morning. Not until one hundred redcoats, early 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 249 

in the afternoon, landed at the docks, and ad- 
vanced up the devastated streets, shooting at 
every person they saw, was any one injured. 
Then a bullet hit Reuben Clough * in the thigh, 
and he fell at my feet. Nearly all of our party 
had already fled up the nearest lane to get be- 
yond the range of the British marksmen. But 
Sam Green was still near enough to hear my call, 
and came back to my assistance. Together we 
raised our fallen comrade, and carried him off 
up town. 

The route we were following led us by Doctor 
Coffin’s residence, where we stopped to see if the 
physician was about. Finding the house deserted, 
we took a cot, out of which we made a comfort- 
able stretcher, and placing Master Clough upon 
it, hastened on with our burden. Nor did we 
pause again until we had taken the sufferer, at 
his own solicitation, to his sister’s, out on the 
Stroudwater road. 

We were gone two hours from the village, for 
we did not leave our unfortunate comrade until 
Sam, who was quite an expert with injuries, had 
examined and dressed his wound, which, much 
to our satisfaction, proved not to be serious. 

* He was the only person injured that day— a singular 
circumstance under so terrific a fire. — Editor, 


250 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


On entering the town we were attracted by 
what seemed to be a disturbance near the First 
Parish meeting-house, and, directing our steps 
that way, arrived in time to see Major Libby and 
Master Bragdon marching off with a redcoat* 
they had caught in the act of firing the sacred 
edifice. 

There’s a hint for us, Sam,” I remarked en- 
thusiastically. “ Perhaps we can run in with a 
stray Britisher, and make a capture, too.” 

“ I’d give more to put these two paws of mine 
on to the ole man than the whole kit and boodle 
of t’others,” returned the sailor ; but neither one 
of us imagined that was just what we should 
do. in less than an hour. 

From where w’e stood no extended view could 
be obtained of the village below, or of the bay, 
for a dense smoke had settled down between the 
hill and the shore. The fleet was still firing, 
however, though not as vigorously as in the 
earlier part of the day, and their shots were 
directed towards the north and south parts of the 
town. 

‘‘That shows that the land force is in here,” 

* He was the only Britisher secured during the bombard- 
ment, and was delivered a few days later to the Continental 
Authorities in Cambridge. — Editor. 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 251 

I remarked to my companion, and waving my 
hand off towards the harbor. ‘‘ The}’ don’t shoot 
where they think their own men are.” 

Then that’s whar we muss go to ketch our 
man,” Master Green retorted humorously. 

Before I could answer there were shouts on 
our left, and then the sound of hurrying feet. 

It’s a squad of redcoats. Come on ! ” I cried, 
leading the way off to the right. 

We had not gone a dozen rods before we met a 
second band of Britishers. They caught sight of 
us and spread out so as to hem us in on every 
side but the east. Our only chance of escape 
was a plunge down the hill, through the thick 
smoke, into the heart of the burned district, and 
even this might bring us into the midst of other 
foes. 

But we took it. Dodging behind an old barn 
which had so far escaped the conflagration, we 
ran at our best speed across the vacant lot to the 
next street. 

Some of the marines started after us, only to be 
called back by the officer in charge. 

‘‘Let them go, lads!” he said. “Let them 
go ! Some of our comrades will pick them up 
before they go far in that direction.” 

But he was mistaken in this. We reached 


252 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


Turkey Lane, and passed through it to King 
Street without seeing a single person. The whole 
section seemed deserted. Here and there a build- 
ing was standing, however, among them Captain 
Coulson’s dwelling, and the moment my eye fell 
upon it, I said : 

Let us go down to the old house, Sam ! I’d 
like to see what there is left of it.” 

Quickening our steps we were soon at the yard. 
Passing around to the side door, we tried it, find- 
ing it unlocked. Mechanically I led the way 
through the dining-room to the hall, and on to 
the door of the library, which I threw carelessly 
open. Then I started back in surprise and alarm, 
for I was face to face with Captain Coulson. 

At first he was as startled as I was, then he rec- 
ognized me, and, snatching a pistol from his belt, 
fired. The ball passed uncomfortably near my 
head, and struck Sam, who was just behind me, in 
the arm, inflicting, however, the merest scratch. 
With the only oath on his lips I had ever heard 
him utter, the old sailor sprang by me, and grap- 
pled with the Tory. He had the strength of an 
infuriated lion, and in his grasp his victim was as 
helpless as a fawn. In a half minute he had been 
disarmed, and thrown upon the floor, where Mas- 
ter Green knelt upon him, crying : 



Sam had the strength of an infuriated lion, and in his grasp 
his victim was as a helpless fawn. Page 252. 

A T ory's Revenge 




I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 253 

“I dunno which is best, to choke out yere 
miserable life right here, or to save ye for the 
gallus.” 

“ Save him ! ” I shouted in my excitement, and 
rushing forward to Sam’s help. 

reckon that’s best,” he responded. “It’s 
better to let the authorities kill the cuss than to 
do it myself. I’ll hold him while ye git a rope.” 

I ran out to the kitchen, where I found a clothes- 
line, with which we speedily bound our prisoner. 
Then, glancing about us, we saw why the royalist 
had visited the house and alone. 

Above the mantel a huge panel had been re- 
moved, disclosing a secret closet of some size. 
From this two small leather-bound boxes had been 
taken, and placed upon the table, whose con- 
tents the Captain was examining at the moment 
I intruded upon him. Evidently he had come to 
secure the valuables, for the caskets contained 
papers, and bags of money and cases of jewels. 

Noticing I had discovered the treasure, he ex- 
claimed sarcastically : 

“It’s right there where you can help yourself, 
and I expect it will be just like you to carry it 
all off.” 

“ I am not a thief, if you are a scoundrel,” I 
replied hotly. “But there is one thing I do in- 


254 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


tend that you shall do : It is to pay me every 
shilling you owed my dead father, and my full 
wages for the time I have been with you.” 

‘^And thar’s a matter of a few pounds you 
may as well hand over to me,” chimed in Sam. 

‘^I’ll tell you what I will do,” the Tory ex- 
claimed, after a moment of silence. Let me go, 
and I’ll give you each a hundred pounds. It is 
there in the boxes, and you can count it out for 
yourselves.” 

‘‘ Can’t do it, ole man,” Master Green returned 
with a solemn sha£e of his head. ‘‘ It won’t do 
to cheat the gallus of ye, nohow. Ye muss swing 
for it, jess as ye once meant this lad should.” 

‘‘ There is one thing we will do, though,” I re- 
plied hastily and unthinkingly, ‘‘That is, if Sam 
agrees. Pay us each the full amount that right- 
fully belongs to us, and you may do what you 
please with the rest of these valuables.” 

“ What will you do with them, if I don’t ?” he 
questioned. 

“ Turn them over to the Continental authorities, 
and let them decide what it is best to do with 
them,” I declared. 

“I reckon we better do it anyway,” put in 
Sam. “ They’ll do the right thing by us.” 

How the controversy would have ended I do 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 255 

not know, for at that instant there was the sound 
of feet at the front door, and a voice which I rec- 
ognized as that of Lieutenant Gay called out : 

“Here we are. Captain, all ready for you.’’ 

Instantly Master Green, who had remained be- 
side the Tory, clapped his hand over his mouth, 
while I tiptoed to the nearest window and peeped 
out. Lieutenant Gay was alone on the stoop, but 
there was a squad, numbering at least a dozen 
men, in the street. 

“ They’re too many for us, Sam,” I said, going 
back to my comrade. *‘We must run for it. 
Take one of the boxes, and follow me.” 

Catching up the nearest casket I closed its lid, 
and darted into the hall, while Sam followed my 
example and kept close at my heels. Then up 
the stairs we went, the Captain meantime crying 
loudly for help. 

We were in Mistress Coulson’s room before the 
Lieutenant and his men got into the house, for 
they had to go around to the side door to obtain 
an entrance, and then not until they had unbound 
the Tory and heard his story did they realize his 
captors were still in the house. This gave us 
time to pass through Jane’s room into the kitchen 
loft, where my companion asked me in a whis- 
per : 


256 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


‘‘Ain’t ye gittin’ us into a trap, Ben ? ” 

“No, as you’ll see,” I replied, walking quickly 
down to the end of the attic, and pressing the 
movable board with my right hand. It slid back, 
and the next minute we were in the little stable 
chamber with our way of exit closed behind us. 

“ That’s cute now, ain’t it ? ” Sam remarked, 
as we sat down upon the bed, “ Sure it’s safe 
to stay here ? ” 

I nodded, adding : 

“They’ll probably search the barn after they 
do the house, but before they come up here we’ll 
slip back into the attic. We’ll not leave the house 
until they have departed.” 

The sailor quickly comprehended my plan, and 
we sat there in silence, listening to the tread of 
our pursuers in the adjoining chambers. They 
came into the kitchen loft, but discovered nothing 
to lead them to suspect we were only a foot away. 
It was soon evident that Captain Coulson was 
not with this party, for a moment later we heard 
him calling from below : 

It’s no use to look for them up there. Lieuten- 
ant Gay. I found the kitchen door open. Doubt- 
less they ran down the back way, and were out of 
the house before you were in it. We must look 
for them outside.” 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 257 

Almost simultaneously the sound of steps leav- 
ing the house, and entering the stable was heard, 
and we fled back into the attic just in time to es- 
cape from the men who visited my little chamber. 
Not sure but there would be a renewed search of 
the house, we sat there in the loft for a long while, 
ready to go in either direction which promised us 
safety. But no one came near us, nor did we, 
after the first few minutes, hear any steps about 
the dwelling or the barn. At length I said : 

‘‘We are safe, Sam.” 

“Yes, an’ got the ole man’s boxes,” he added 
with a chuckle. 

“We’ll fasten them right up here, and turn 
them over, contents untouched, to. the Town Com- 
mittee,” I remarked. 

“ Sartin,” he agreed, helping me to fasten down 
the clasps. 

“ Shall we attempt to get out of town now ? ” I 
inquired. 

“ I like my quarters,” Sam retorted, taking out 
his pipe and proceeding to fill it. Why not stay 
here till the redcoats go back to the ships ? ” 

There was no reason why we should not do it, 
as the house certainly seemed to offer us a safe 
refuge, so I consented. From a window in Mis- 
tress Coulson’s room we watched the lifting of the 


25B 


A TORY’S REVENGE. 


smoke, the departure of the land force, and the 
cessation of the bombardment. This was about 
six o’clock, and Master Green immediately pro- 
posed a course which had already occurred to me : 
It was that we remain where we were all night. 

“We’ve got a roof over us, an’ a bed to sleep 
in, an’ perhaps food. We might look an’ see ; 
anyway we can git along one night right here.” 

I went down to the pantry, where I found milk, 
eggs, bread, butter, and cold meat, and between 
us Sam and I got up quite a meal. Soon after 
dark we went into the stable chamber, where, 
throwing ourselves down upon the bed with our 
clothes on, we quickly dropped to sleep. 

Nothing disturbed us during the night, and ris- 
ing early we went out on the street to look about 
us. We found the redcoats had already departed, 
carrying with them every vessel the harbor con- 
tained which they had not sunk or burned ; while 
the entire section bounded by Queen, Center, Fore, 
and King streets, besides many of the outlying 
districts, was a mass of ruins. Slowly we made 
our way up Meeting-house Lane, at the head of 
which I met Colonel Freeman and Enoch, who 
were walking in from the country, where they had 
passed the night. 

“ It’s a sad sight, Ben,” the Colonel remarked. 


1 MEET CAPTAIN COtTLSON FACE TO PACE. 259 

Yes, sir,” I answered ; and then asked : 
‘‘Have you any idea, sir, how many buildings 
were destroyed ? ” 

“ Enoch and I have been counting up,” he re- 
plied, “and we make it not far from four 
hundred.” * 

“ It’s a great loss,” I ventured to say. 

“Yes,” he assented ; “not less than sixty thou- 
sand pounds, and the greater part of it falls on 
those who can little afford to lose it. I think at 
least one hundred and sixty families have lost all 
they possessed.” 

“And Captain Coulson was the instigator of 
this terrible destruction,” I continued. 

“ Yes, and he must answer to a just God for 
it.” 

“Why not let him pay a part of the bill,” I 
suggested. 

The Colonel gazed at me steadily for a moment 
or two, and then he said : 

“You have some reason for that remark, Ben. 
Tell me what you mean ? ” 

“ Come down to Captain Coulson’s place with 
us, and we’ll tell you,” I responded. 

* The actual number burned was 414 — one hundred and 
thirty-six dwellings, and two hundred and seventy-eight 
other buildings. — Editor. 


2G0 A TORY'S REVENGE. 

Five minutes later, the four of us, for Enoch 
went along too, were seated in the library, where 
Sam and I produced the leather-bound boxes, and 
told of our latest adventure. 

The Provincial Congress will settle this mat- 
ter,” the Colonel announced, ‘‘and there is little 
doubt but that you both will get the amounts due 
you ; ” then we parted, he to make arrangements 
to go to Watertown, while we went out to Master 
Milton^s, in Peering, for we had promised the 
morning before to return there in time for the 
funeral of Mistress Coulson. 

Some months later Sam and I were members of 
the crew that brought a prize-ship into Boston. 
Soon after our arrival the Provisional Governor 
sent for us, and, upon calling at his residence, we 
were presented with the full amounts which Cap- 
tain Coulson owed us. The official furthermore 
told us that the valuables we had taken from the 
Tory proved to be worth not far from one thou- 
sand pounds, all of which, outside of the sum due 
Sam and myself, had been placed in the hands of 
the Falmouth Safety Committee to be distributed 
among those families which could least afford to 
lose their homes. 

“Thus far,” he added, “has the Tory been 
made to atone for his atrocious revenge. The rest 


I MEET CAPTAIN COULSON FACE TO FACE. 261 

is in the hands of Him who hath said ; ‘ V enge- 
ance is mine,' where we can safely leave it.” 

A declaration to which Sam and I were ready 
to yield a hearty assent. 

THE END. 



i- 



V 















A. L. Burt’s Catalogue of Books for 
Young People by Popular Writers, 52- 
58 Duane Street, New York 'e 


BOOKS FOR BOYS. 

Joe’s Luck: A Boy’s Adventures in California. By 

Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

The story is chock full of stirring incidents, while the amusing situ- 
ations are furnished by Joshua Bickford, from Pumpkin Hollow, and the 
fellow who modestly styles himself the “Rip-tail Roarer, from Pike Co., 
Missouri.” Mr. Alger never writes a poor book, and “Joe’s Luck” is cer- 
tainly one of bis best. 

Tom the Bootblack; or, The Koad to Success. By 

Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the Bootblack. He was not at all 
ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the lookout to better 
himself. The lad started for Cincinnati to look up his heritage. Mr. 
Grey, the uncle, did not hesitate to employ a ruffian to kill the lad. The 
plan failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the bootblack, came into a com- 
fortable fortune. This is one of Mr. Alger’s best stories. 

Dan the Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, 

cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Dan Mordaunt and his mother live In a poor tenement, and the lad Is 
pluckily trying to make ends meet by selling papers in the streets of New 
York. A little heiress of six years Is confided to the care of the Mor- 
daunts. The child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child to the house 
where she Is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt of the little 
heiress is so delighted with Dan’s courage and many good qualities 
that she adopts him as her heir. 

Tony the Hero: A Brave Boy’s Adventure with a 

Tramp. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 
Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen. Is under the control of 
Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal. After much abuse Tony runs away 
and gets a job as stable boy In a country hotel. Tony is heir to a 
large estate. Rudolph for a consideration hunts up Tony and throws 
him down a deep well. Of course Tony escapes from the fate provided 
for him, and by a brave act, a rich friend secures his rights and Tony 
Is prosperous. A very entertaining book. 

The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. 

By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00. 

The career of “The Errand Boy” embraces the city adventures of a 
smart country lad. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted innkeeper 
named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for the hero’s 
subsequent troubles. A retired merchant in New York secures him the 
situation of errand boy, and thereafter stands as his friend. 

Tom Temple’s Career. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, 

cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Tom Temple Is a bright, self-reliant lad. He leaves Plympton village 
to seek work in New York, whence he undertakes an important mission 
to California. Some of his adventures In the far west are so startling that 
the reader will scarcely close the book until the last page shall have been 
reached. The tale Is written In Mr. Alger’s most fascinating style. 


For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the 
publisher, A. L. BURT, 62-68 Duane Street, New York. 


2 A. L. BURT^S BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 


BOOKS FOR BOYS, 

Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy, By Horatio Alger, Jr. 

12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Frank Fowler, a poor boy, bravely determines to make a living for 
himself and his foster-sister Grace. Going to New York he obtains a 
situation as cash boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a 
wealthy old gentleman who takes a fancy to the lad, and thereafter 
helps the lad to gain success and fortune. 

Tom Thatcher’s Fortune. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 

12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, unselfish boy. He supports his 
mother and sister on meagre wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John 
Simpson’s factory. Tom is discharged from the factory and starts over- 
land for California. He meets with many adventures. The story is told 
in a way which has made Mr. Alger’s name a household word in so many 
homes. 

The Train Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, 

cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported his mother 
and sister by selling books and papers on the Chicago and Milwaukee 
Railroad. He detects a young man in the act of picking the pocket of a 
young lady. In a railway accident many passengers are killed, but Paul 
is fortunate enough to assist a Chicago merchant, who out of gratitude 
takes him into his employ. Paul succeeds with tact and judgment and 
is well started on the road to business prominence. 

Mark Mason’s Victory. The Trials and Triumphs of 

a Telegraph Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. ISmo, cloth, illustrated, price 

$ 1 . 00 . 

Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily 
won his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many diffi- 
culties. This story will please the very large class of boys who regard 
Mr. Alger as a favorite author. 

A Debt of Honor. The Story of Gerald Lane’s Success 

in the Far West. By Horatio Aloer, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price 

$ 1 . 00 . 

The story of Gerald Lane and the account of the many trials and dis- 
appointments which he passed through befot. he attained success, will 
Interest all boys who have read the previous stories of this delightful 
author. 

Ben Bruce. Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. 

By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

Ben Bruce was a brave, manly, generous boy. The story of his efforts, 
and many seeming failures and disappointments, and bis final success, are 
most interesting to all readers. The tale is written in Mr. Alger’s 
most fascinating style. 

The Castaways; or. On the Florida Beefs. By James 

Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. 

This tale smacks of the salt sea. From the moment that the Sea 
Queen ''leaves lower New York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off 
the coast of Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind 
through her rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to 
the leeward. The adventures of Ben Clark, the hero of the storv and 
Jake the cook, cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young 
people Mr. Otis is a prime favorite. 

For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the 

publisher, A. L. BUBT, 62-58 Duane Street, New York. 











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